Students at the University of Kent were left homeless after fire ripped through a block of flats last night.

Firefighters believe the devastating blaze at a three-storey student building in Ivy Lane was caused by cooking left on a hob.

A Kent Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said: "Crews arrived to find a well established fire on the first floor of a three storey property, containing a number of flats, used for student accommodation.

"Wearing breathing apparatus, crews entered the property to find a fire in the kitchen, which is believed to have started by cooking being left on the hob."

Three fire engines, police and an ambulance were called just after 8pm but no one was inside the property when emergency services arrived and no injuries were reported.

The fire was out by 8.40pm.

The spokesman added: "The kitchen suffered severe damage and the rest of the property was left with extensive smoke damage.

"The occupants of the building needed to be rehoused due to the property being uninhabitable."