A woman had a lucky escape after she fell asleep while cooking.

The householder, an asthmatic, had left a pan of pork chops unattended on the hob and woke up to find her flat thick with smoke.

Now firefighters are warning householders to always watch their cooking.

The fire broke out at a flat in Fort Pitt Street, Chatham, at about 3.15pm on Sunday..

Strood Fire Station watch manager Mar c Rosier said: "The chops were cremated and the flat was damaged by smoke but not flames. Luckily she woke up in time.

"We would warn everyone not to leave their cooking unattended. The woman had a smoke alarm but that was not even working so we fitted a new one. Again, we would urge people to make sure their alarms are in working order."

The middle aged woman suffered smoke inhallation and was given oxygen by firefighters before being attended to by an ambulance crew.

Two fire engines, from the Strood and Gillingham stations, were called to the incident.