Fire crews are warning people not to leave pans unattended on cooker hobs after two fires in less than three days.

The first call was to a third floor flat in Norman Street, Dover, at 4am on Saturday, September 25, when neighbours heard a smoke alarm sounding and couldn't rouse the occupant.

Fire-fighters broke into the flat and found him apparently unconscious on the floor. He was carried to safety.

A pan containing oil and scraps of food had overheated on a hob, filling the flat with fumes.

The second call was on Monday evening, September 27, when smoke was seen coming from the rear window of a first-floor bedsit at Folkestone Road, Dover.

People in other flats were evacuated as fire-fighters wearing breathing apparatus went into the building to put the fire out.

Again a pan had overheated on a hob which had been left switched on by the occupant who had then gone to work.

Full stories in this week's Dover Mercury.