An entire home has been left with smoke and heat damage after a "substantial" fire broke out in the early hours - believed to have been sparked by a fridge.

Firefighters were called to a house in Chestnut Drive, Sturry, at about midnight last night as the occupants fled the blazing building.

Two fire engines rushed to the scene, and crews wearing breathing apparatus tackled the fire with a hose reel jet, before using a high pressure fan to clear the building of smoke.

The fire is thought to have started accidentally, due to an electrical fault in the residents' fridge.

The occupants were already safely outside the property when firefighters arrived, after being alerted to the fire by their smoke alarm.

While there were no reported injuries, Kent Fire and Rescue Service's volunteer response team provided the residents with support.

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