AN ELDERLY woman had a narrow escape after fire tore through the downstairs lounge at her home in Orchard Place, Faversham. She had left clothes drying on her heater before she went to bed.

As she slept, the clothes caught light and the blaze spread. By chance her neighbour heard suspicious sounds from the house and managed to wake the woman by shouting through her letterbox.

Firefighters from Faversham tackled the blaze. The victim was unhurt but her lounge has been badly fire damaged. A station spokesman said: "If it hadn't been for the neighbour, this could have been a tragedy. The victim had no smoke alarm and was asleep as the fire spread.

"We can't stress enough the importance of having a smoke alarm fitted. They are only around five pounds and they could save lives."