A man had a lucky escape after he used a petrol-soaked rag to light a bonfire - and created a fireball.

He then accidentally kicked over a petrol can and the fire spread to decking and an outhouse.

Two fire engines from Dartford and one from Thames-side were called to a garden in Button Street, Swanley, at 2.20pm yesterday.

Dartford crew manager Gary Miller said: "As the rag was lit, the vapours from the petrol ignited causing a momentary fireball.

"The man dropped the rag and as he moved to a place of safety, he knocked over a petrol container that was stored close by, spilling the contents onto wooden decking and close to an adjacent brick built outhouse.

“Unfortunately this man underestimated the consequences of putting petrol onto a fire. Our advice is never use any type of accelerant on a fire.

"He was lucky to escape without any injuries but half the building and roof were destroyed and our crews worked extremely hard to prevent the fire spreading to a neighbouring shed."

Crews extinguished the blaze shortly after 3pm, but remained at the property removing roof tiles to check for hot spots and damping down until 3.45pm.

Kent Fire and Rescue advises people never to use flammable liquids such as petrol to start a bonfire and never burn dangerous items such as aerosol cans, paint tins, foam furniture or batteries.