The residents of a house that caught fire in the early hours of this morning were rescued by quick-thinking neighbours who pitched a ladder to a bedroom window.

The occupants were trapped in the upper storey by the flames and suffered from the effects of smoke inhalation. They were later treated by paramedics at the scene in Gravesend, but were otherwise unharmed.

Fire broke out in the two-storey property in Railway Street, Northfleet, just before 4am.

Firefighters spent two hours tackling the blaze using a combination of high-pressure hose reels and main jets, followed by a large fan to drive smoke and fumes from the premises.

Two cats at the property were also saved.

The blaze was attended by two fire crews, British Red Cross volunteers and members of the Kent Fire and Rescue Service Volunteer Response Team who gave practical assistance and comfort to the tenants.

The cause of the fire is unknown.