A family of 10 had to flee their home after a fire broke out in an upstairs bedroom.

Four fire crews attended the blaze in Sheerstone, Iwade, near Sittingbourne.

Two adults and eight children managed to escape before firefighters arrived.

Station Manager Dan Upton led the operation.

He said: "The mother was in the street when we arrived and was extremely distressed."

"At first we feared that some of her children were still inside but it quickly transpired that they were already out and were being looked after by neighbours.

"Although we advise people not to tackle fires themselves, and to get out and contact us as soon as possible, it would appear that the actions of neighbours have helped this family to have a very lucky escape."

Crews from Sittingbourne attended at 8.50pm Saturday and required backup from two more crews.

A man and a teenage girl were taken to hospital suffering smoke inhalation.

The girl had also sustained burns to hands and forearms.

The mother and seven children were treated at the scene by paramedics and firefighters for smoke inhalation.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

For more on this story see the Sittingbourne edition of the Kent Messenger - out on Friday.