A family fled from their home after they heard an explosion when a fire took hold.

The blaze began in a garage attached to the house in Brenchley Avenue, Gravesend when a faulty tumble dryer caught alight.

A spokesman for a crew from Thames-side fire station who were called out to the home said the fire was “going well” when they arrived.

It is thought the fire began around 7.20pm on Saturday and crews managed to stop it spreading to the house and a neighbouring property by tackling the flames form inside the garage.

The fire service spokesman added: “There were other electrical appliances in the garage and tools and aerosol cans and the like, three quarters of it has been destroyed by the flames.

“That’s what had probably caused the explosion inside, an aerosol can, and the noise from that was what alerted the family to the situation.

“They did everything right and got out of the house unharmed.

“The crew did an excellent job in stopping the flames spreading as some of the guttering and fascias were beginning to melt on the next door property."

Firefighting teams were on the scene for around two hours.