Householders have been told not to try to tackle fires themselves but to get out of the building and ring the emergency services.

The warning comes following a blaze at a house in York Road, Canterbury at 9.15pm on Sunday.

Hot oil left unattended on a cooker caught fire and at first the occupants tried to put it out themselves before fleeing the building and ringing firefighters.

Fire officer Andy Ramsden said: “The building was a student house in multiple occupancy and the occupants tried unsuccessfully to put out the blaze.

"Our advice is never try to fight a fire unless you have the right equipment and training.

“In this case a chip pan had been left. People should never leave cooking unattended.

"If there is a fire householders should ring us and then get out of the building.

"They should never try to deal with it themselves as they could make it worse. Our advice is get out, get us and stay out.”

The fire damaged the kitchen but no one was hurt.