Aerial images show the devastation a fire at a block of terrace homes has left behind.

Six home were severely damaged after a blaze took hold in one of them at around 5pm last night.

Firefighters spent eight hours tackling the flames in Rose Street, Gravesend, which caused a roof collapse.

Smoke could be seen billowing from the properties after it spread one by one down the road.

Drone footage has shown the extent of the damage, with five out of the six roofs being severely damaged.

Mary Williams was one of the people whose house caught alight. A fire service member ran into her home to retrieve her husband’s ashes for her as it was the only thing she wanted to save.

Speaking to KentOnline she explained how a neighbour rushed to her door and told her about the blaze – but she didn’t believe them.

“One of my neighbours knocked on my door and said to me ‘Mary your house is on fire’,” she explained.

“I didn’t believe it, I thought I wasn’t cooking or anything. I came out and I looked up and thought ‘Oh my god’. One of the neighbours came rushing in, got the cat and dragged me out basically.

“I was thinking what a rotten last three years we’ve had. Everything bad which could happen has happened. This was the cherry on the terrible icing of the cake.

“The cats are fine which is the main thing and my daughters fine and that’s what matters at the end of the day.”

The neighbour, who didn’t want to be named, added: “I ran down into the house to get her cats out. It was filling up with smoke. You do not think. I just wanted to make sure everyone was safe. We did what anyone would.

Leahnora Pearson, whose house was sprayed in foam to stop the fire spreading to her home, said: “I was in my kitchen cooking and I noticed smoke coming along the window.

“I opened my door and the smoke was billowing down towards my house along the street. I wasn’t sure what was happening so I shut the door and went up to the top floor and could see all the people running along.

“I was concerned because I thought it would stay at one house, but when it got to two or three I got a bit worried.

Another resident who lives nearby added: “Everyone was out the front. They were still going at it through the night. They were still trying to put the flames at at around 10pm. They sprayed foam on the end house to stop it from jumping to out block.”

“All the neighbours were helping and made sandwiches. You do not expect it to happen. It is dreadful. I am still shocked really. It is really awful. It is devastating.

“They have lost everything. It happens to the best of people.”

Gravesham council confirmed they had helped the families affected find temporary accommodation last night, while some people on social media asked for clothing for another family who had “lost everything”.

A council spokesman said: “We had officers on the scene last night and those families that needed it were found temporary accommodation.

“We are working with Kent Fire and Rescue Service to understand the full extent of the damage to the homes affected and what further support might be needed for those families.”

Ten fire engines, a height vehicle, and a command support unit were at the scene at the height of the blaze.

A volunteer response team was also called to support affected residents. Initially the service was called to a fire at a single property just after 5pm, but over the evening it spread.

The fire service said crews worked hard to bring the blaze under control, and it was finally out by 1am. Three fire engines stayed at the scene overnight, with firefighters checking for hot spots, damping down and keeping an eye on the structural stability of the buildings.

One fire engine remains there this morning.

In a statement issued at 7am today, a fire service spokesman said: “Six terrace homes have been impacted by this incident, all severely damaged with partial roof collapse, and our thoughts are with the affected residents. There are no reported injuries.

“Firefighters will be visiting residents in the surrounding properties today to provide reassurance, as part of standard post incident protocol after a fire.”

Paige Mckee, who lives in a flat in the Hive across from Rose Street said: "There were a lot of sirens when the emergency service was coming to the scene.

“The firefighters are trying to put the fire out but it keeps burning. I noticed the smoke first around 5pm.It looks as if the roof has completely burnt off and almost the entire terrace of houses on fire."

People were told to avoid the area, and neighbours were warned to keep windows and doors closed due to the smoke, but this advice has since been lifted.