A YOUNG mother was among seven people who had to be rescued during a blaze at a block of flats.

The 21-year-old woman, who was with her two-year-old daughter, called the emergency services after the fire broke out at St Patricks Gardens off Valley Drive in Gravesend.

Control room staff at Kent Fire and Rescue Service received the first call at 10.32pm on Monday and sent three fire engines, two from Thames-side and one from Strood.

It is believed the blaze started in an empty flat on the first floor of the four storey building and when crews arrived they saw residents in other flats hanging out of the windows.

It was too smoky in the hallway for the young mother to leave the flat and although they would have been safe where they were, crews decided to rescue them and another 21-year-old woman by using an extension ladder at the window.

A 19-year-old woman, an 18-year-old man and an 18-month-old baby boy were then led to safety from another flat. A 14-year-old girl and her dog were also helped from the building of 12 flats.

Thames-side Watch Manager Steve Winter said: “It wasn’t a particularly difficult job in terms of firefighting but there were obviously a number of concerned residents in nearby flats and our control room staff did an excellent job of keeping the callers calm.

"This helped us greatly with rescuing the people and we are pleased at the outcome as no-one was hurt or needed treatment.”

The cause of the blaze is being investigated by police and fire chiefs.