A mum has told of the terrifying moment her family had to climb out of an upstairs window after their home went up in flames as they slept.

Victoria Hills and husband Leighton woke to the sound of the fire alarm blaring in the early hours at their house in Railway Street.

Mrs Hills called 999 at 3.45am on Thursday while her husband rushed to get their two children – Oliver, 11, and Emily, eight – to the safety of their bedroom as they were trapped upstairs by the flames.

"My son came to our door screaming because the fire alarm was going off, but he couldn't see. We were disorientated," said Mrs Hills, describing the ordeal.

"We brought my son into our room and had him hanging out the window while my husband went to get our daughter.

"We had the kids at the window so they could get air and scream to alert someone.

"Our neighbours were so quick.

"While I was on the phone I was putting blankets down by the door to try and stop the smoke coming in, but you couldn't see your hand in front of your face. It was so scary.

"My neighbour put a ladder up. We got my daughter out first, then my boy, then myself and my husband.

"We were all petrified. I just want to thank my neighbours for everything."

Fire crews swiftly arrived and spent two hours tackling the blaze using a combination of high-pressure hose reels and main jets, followed by a large fan to drive smoke and fumes from the home.

The family suffered from smoke inhalation and were treated by paramedics at the scene before being taken to hospital, but were otherwise unharmed.

Their neighbour, Jordan White, had only moved to Railway Street two days before but found himself rushing out of his new home to help the family he had never met.

The shop worker bashed down the front door, which allowed the family's two cats, Defoe and Alli, to escape the blaze unharmed.

Volunteers from the British Red Cross and members of the Kent Fire and Rescue Service Volunteer Response Team were also called to the scene and helped support the family immediately after the incident.

Mrs Hills added: "Everyone pulled together, they really were supportive.

"My kids were taken into my neighbour's next door and given blankets, I was standing outside but someone threw a blanket round my shoulders and shoved a cup of coffee in my hand."

The fire is believed to have started accidentally, due to an electrical fault.

The Hills family are now living in emergency accommodation in Dartford as their home, which they rented for nine years, has been destroyed by the flames.

While the building is covered by insurance, their belongings, which are either burnt or damaged by smoke, are not.

Mr Halls' sister Laura Warden has since started a GoFundMe page to help raise vital funds so the family can buy essential items and start to rebuild their lives.

Mrs Hall, 32, said: "We've got friends and family who are rallying together to support us.

"I don't think I have really hit earth yet. Everything has been a million miles per hour trying to get things sorted and trying to be strong for the kids – it's a lot to process.

"We are lucky to have such great friends and family.

"What they have done for us is amazing, I really can't thank them enough.

"It's going to take too long for us to wait to move back into the property so we will probably have to find somewhere else to live."

So far more than £500 has been raised.

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