A man had a lucky escape when a chip pan in his flat caught fire filling his home with smoke.

Firefighters were called to Connaught Road in Folkestone in the early hours of this morning.

When they arrived the found the flat was already logged with smoke after the chip pan overheated.

Crews used a positive pressure ventilation fan to clear the smoke and gave the man oxygen before being taken into the care of paramedics.

The incident has prompted a safety warning from Kent Fire and Rescue Service about kitchen fires.

A spokesman said: "Most fires start in the kitchen, so please avoid leaving cooking unattended.

"Turn off the heat if you leave the room and never fill a pan more than one third full of fat or oil.

"If the oil starts to smoke, do not begin cooking - remove from the heat and leave it to cool."