A woman in her 30s has been taken to hospital after a major blaze destroyed the upstairs of a family home in Herne Bay.

At the height of the incident six fire engines attended Landon Road after an upstairs bedroom was engulfed by flames.

A woman in her 30s has been treated for smoke inhalation and taken to hospital as a precaution - but the house was safely evacuated.

The first floor and roof have been completely destroyed with the ground floor left with extensive water and smoke damage.

Fire crews were called to the blaze shortly before 2.30pm which raged on until 7pm this evening.

One resident, 63, who did not wish to be named, told how the blaze must be “devastating” for the family.

“I came along and saw when it first started,” they said.

“There were about four fire engines.

“It took hold pretty quickly and within three-quarters of an hour the fire had destroyed the whole house. I was here at about 3pm.”

Fire crews at the scene in Landon Road, Herne Bay

Another resident, 20, described how the black fumes covered the area and affected visibility.

“It was immense smoke and I’ve never seen anything like it before,” they said.

“I’ve seen a house fire before but nothing like that.”

Residents living in the area were asked to close windows and doors due to the huge amount of smoke being created by the fire.

The fire service said: "Six fire engines were sent to the property in Landon Road.

"When they arrived they found a smoke-filled house and an upstairs bedroom on fire.

"The house was safely evacuated and one woman in her 30s has been given first aid and treated for smoke inhalation.

"Residents living around the local area are being asked to close windows and doors due to the amount of smoke being created by the fire.

"Please share this information with anyone living near by who may not have access to social media or the internet.

"Firefighters are using hose reel jets, fog spike and cover jets and breathing apparatus to tackle the fire."

The fire service's volunteer response team is helping to support the people who live in the home with welfare.

As of 5pm four fire engines and a height vehicle were still in attendance.

A further update issued by the service at 7pm confirmed the blaze was now out.

The cause of the fire isn't known at this stage, but is believed to be accidental.