A pensioner had a lucky escape after neighbours spotted her porch alight as she slept last night.

Fire crews were called to the property in The Fairways, Deal, at 11.45pm, where the 81-year-old woman had been dozing unaware of the blaze.

It is thought someone may have started the fire by posting something through her letterbox.

Deal fire station crew manager Paul Evans said: "The house was occupied by an 81-year-old vulnerable lady, who was oblivious to it.

"We couldn't gain entry but luckily a neighbour had her number so they phoned her and she came down and let us in."

"It was only a small fire but it had been burning for a while.

"The glass has smashed. We think it was started deliberately and that someone put something through a letter box - how else do fires like that start?"

Kent Police press spokeswoman Lisa Humphreys said police are investigating the cause.

Crew manager Evans added: "When she came down she was pretty unphased by it all.

"It was lucky it was spotted. Goodness knows what could have happened otherwise."

If you witnessed anything suspicious, or have information about the start of the fire, call police on 101.