Firefighters have issued a warning about the dangers of leaving candles unattended following a family’s lucky escape from a house fire in Sandwich.

The blaze started after a candle had been left burning next to the television. The heat from the candle radiated - setting fire to an electric cable - causing fire and smoke damage throughout the house.

Fire engines from Sandwich and Eastry were sent to the mid-terraced property in Galliard Street just after 10.30pm on Thursday after the smoke alarm sounded, alerting the woman and her two young children who were able to get out of the property and dial 999.

Crews entered the house wearing breathing apparatus and discovered the fire in the living room. They used a hose reel to tackle the blaze and a thermal imaging camera to check for hot spots.

Sandwich Watch Manager Kevin Deveson said: “Fortunately the family had a working smoke alarm which gave them the early warning they needed to get out of their home and raise the alarm.

"But this incident also highlights the need to make sure that lit candles are never left unattended and are always extinguished properly after use.”

People are being urged never to leave scented oil burners, tea lights or candles unattended, always put them on a heat-resistant surface and never on a television set, stereo, bath or other plastic surface, and keep them well away from anything that could easily catch fire.

Never put them under a shelf or near curtains, don't let anything fall into the hot wax, and keep them away from draughts.

They should also be kept away from children and pets.