Firefighters were called out to an explosion in a house after an aerosol can shot through a roof.

The Thames-side crew were called after reports of an explosion in a home in Hither Fields, Gravesend.

The occupants of the house had left a number of aerosol cans in a glass lean-to on the back of the house.

By about 4pm yesterday one heated up to such a temperature that it exploded and shot straight through the perspex roof, smashing the plastic and also damaging nearby glass, and lifting part of the roof off at one end.

Watch manager Crouch said: "People must be aware in this hot weather and bright sunshine that aerosol cans heat up and expand, and then they explode.

"It's only going to continue to get hotter during the summer, so people need to be aware of where they are leaving their aerosol cans.

"It's something many people don't think about but you must not leave on windowsill or in direct sunlight.

"It can be can type of canister, from deodorants to air fresheners."

There was no damage to the main house, or any reported injuries.