TWO house fires disturbed festivities for families and firefighters on Christmas Day.

At around 6.10pm on Thursday one crew from Thames-side was called to a house in Downs Road, Istead Rise, to reports of a chimney alight.

On arrival a second pump was called to the incident after it became clear the blaze could be difficult to put out.

While the occupants of the house and other neighbours looked on, firefighters from white watch successfully extinguished the blaze without it causing damage to the rest of the property.

A Kent Fire and Rescue spokesman said: "It was quite awkward to get to the fire but we did in the end using special lines. We were at the scene for a couple of hours. It was lucky Santa came in the morning and wasn't in the chimney at the time."

Soon after crews left the scene they were called to a kitchen fire at a house in Kent Road, Gravesend at around 8.30pm.

The room was seriously damaged by fire and smoke spread through the rest of the property.

The spokesman added: "The owner wasn't present but a neighbour called the emergency services when they realised there was a fire. The owner will need a new kitchen."