More than a dozen firefighters tackled a blaze at a home in Swanscombe during the early hours of this morning.

Four fire engines and a specialist height vehicle were sent to the home in Ames Road, at 4.17am.

They found smoke and flames billowing from doors and windows on both floors of the property.

Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus used main jets, and crews worked hard to prevent the fire spreading to neighbouring properties.

The house has suffered serious damage during the blaze and its roof has been destroyed and fire has ripped through a bedroom window and the front door of the semi-detached property.

The road has been cordoned off by police and the cause of the fire is being investigated.

Alice Small 78, who is a neighbour, said: “I woke up at about 4am when my husband heard banging outside so I looked out of the window and saw all the smoke.

"I stayed upstairs but I was scared. It would have scared anybody.

"There were three fire engines at one point and an ambulance.

"I was powerless to do anything.

"It took hold so quickly one minute there was smoke and then whoosh it was covered in flames.”

A woman thought to live at the property was treated at the scene by paramedics before being taken to hospital and she had got out of the property by the time firefighters arrived on the scene.

Police say the cause of the fire is currently unexplained and no arrests have been made.

It is not being treated as suspicious.