Fire fighters have warned householders to be wary when discarding cigarettes or matches after a blaze started in a bin.

The fire broke out about 10.30pm on Monday and a passer-by raised the alarm after seeing smoke coming from the kitchen window of the house in Ulcombe Gardens, Canterbury.

By the time two crews of firemen arrived, three students living in the property had thrown water on the fire and put it out.

Watch manager Mark Jones said: "Fortunately, the house was also fitted with a smoke alarm which had activated.

"But householders need to be very wary when throwing away cigarettes and matches in bins. They can smoulder for hours and a fire can then start in the middle of the night when everyone is asleep and so is potentially much more dangerous.

"Our usual advice to householders when a fire starts is to shut the doors and get out of the house and leave it to us to put out."