FOUR people were trapped in their home in a Kent town after a fire broke out in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Fire crews were called to tackle the blaze at a flat in Cheriton Road, Folkestone, at around 3.15am.

The fire is being treated as suspicious and police are investigating.

"Four people were trapped inside because the fire was on the stairs and landing leading to the flat," said watch manager, Vic Thorogood.

"The fire was well alight and they couldn't get past for the heat and flames and smoke so they had to stay in their flat."

Other occupants in the building were led to safety while crews spent two hours extinguishing the fire.