Several homes had to be evacuated after a serious house fire broke out.

The fire took hold in a two-storey mid-terrace house in Postling Road, Folkestone.

It is believed to have started accidentally in a first floor bedroom.

A family of four, inside at the time, were able to get out safely after being alerted by a smoke alarm and no-one was injured.

Fire crews and paramedics arrived at 8.40pm and tackled the blaze using a hose reel and jet.

The bedroom was badly fire damaged and the first floor was smoke logged. People in neighbouring properties were told to get out.

Later firefighters cleared smoke from the loft spaces using specialist fans.

Watch Manager Giles Parker said: "Without a working smoke alarm, the consequences for the occupants could have been much more serious."

"This was a severe fire and crews worked hard to minimise the damage to the house and neighbouring properties."

The cause of the fire is not yet known.