A PENSIONER had a lucky escape when fire raged through her bungalow in St Stephen's Green, Canterbury. Jean Leaman, 79, heard a loud explosion and discovered her garage was a mass of flames.

The blaze spread from the garage to the bungalow and devastated the kitchen. The rest of the house was damaged by smoke.

Mrs Leaman said later: "I thought at first it was children playing with fireworks, but it was too loud for that. All my lights went out and I went to investigate. I went to the back door and saw a mass of flames outside. Smoke was billowing past the porch at the front of the house, and I decided it was time I went." Mrs Leaman abandoned her belongings and went into her back garden.

PE teacher John Malloy and his friend Barry Pearce were having a drink in a nearby pub when they heard about the blaze. Mr Malloy said: "We went out and saw the lady who lived in the house being guided out, but her neighbour's car was quite close to the fire, so I moved it for them. Barry went inside the house next door and helped out an elderly man. We didn't do much really."

Firefighters brought the blaze under control within an hour. They believe it was caused by an electrical fault in the car, and the petrol caused flames to spread rapidly.