TWO families have been left counting the cost – but also their lucky stars – after their homes were virtually destroyed by fire.

Firefighters spent hours battling flames at the two houses – one the Blue Bell Hill, home of engaged couple Keith Linton and Maggie Rogers, and the other in West Malling.

Mr Linton and Ms Roger, who plan to marry soon, were both at work when the fire broke out at their home in Warren Road on Wednesday morning.

Ms Rogers, who works in Aylesford, said: "We’ve been having loads of work done on the house, including an extension.

"We are getting married in 14 weeks and were hoping to return home to our newly-renovated house after our honeymoon."

Apart from a downstairs toilet, every single room in the house was damaged and the roof destroyed – as was a £5,000 antique desk in the study.

But the couple, who have had to move out while the house is cleaned up, are philosophical about the disaster.

"It’s just awful, but life has its ups and downs," said Ms Rogers.

Mr Linton said: "I’m just so glad that no-one has been hurt."

The fire is believed to have started when the roof beams were accidentally set alight by a workman using a soldering iron.

Three days earlier, a house in Police Station Road, West Malling, was badly damaged by fire while the owners were on holiday abroad.

The householder, who asked not to be named, was phoned by a neighbour on Sunday telling him the bad news. He cut short his holiday in the south of France and returned the following day.

He said: "The last thing you want is to go on holiday and come back to find your house has burned down. We have lost personal possessions but it could have been worse if someone had been inside."