More than £60,000 was left to the Fire Fighters charity in an Ashford pensioner’s will after the station fitted his home with a smoke alarm.

Retired welder Edward Matthews died in April 2009 aged 88 at his Arlington home in Kingsnorth.

That same month he had contacted Ashford fire station to ask them to come out and fix an alarm as he could not do it himself.

Chairman of The Fire Fighters Charity, Keith McGillivray, said the generous legacy would go to good use.

He said: “Edward’s donation will be used in a number of areas within the charity; helping care for the thousands of injured fire fighters that pass through our centres each year.

"The charity also has plans to open its services out to members of the public who have received critical burns injuries, as well as planning a third therapy centre.”

In his will the reason Mr Matthews provided for bequeathing a third of his estate was due to the “kind and helpful nature of the firemen” that carried out the visit. He also remembered Guide Dogs for The Blind and The Royal British Legion.

The Fire Fighters Charity is the official organisation which exists to support injured fire fighters. The charity assists over 17,000 firefighters every year, by providing pioneering treatment and support services.