A teenager escaped from a blaze at his home in Dover early on Wednesday.

The 18-year-old was in a flat in King Street, just off the Market Square, when a smoke detector set off a fire alarm system in the building just after 5am.

A neighbour who heard the alarm and smelt the smoke banged on the door and helped the man to safety. He suffered from smoke inhalation but did not go to hospital.

Two Dover fire crews attended and had to use breathing apparatus as they tackled the blaze.

The flat was damaged by fire, heat and smoke.

The fire is believed to have been started by an item of clothing coming into contact with a naked light bulb.

A fire service spokesman said the incident showed how important it was to have smoke alarms or smoke detectors fitted, and to take notice of alarms as soon as they sound.