A CHILD who was standing too close to a candle has been left with serious burns after her clothes went up in flames.

The three-year-old was in a house in Baywell, Leybourne, near Maidstone, with her 36-year-old mother when the incident happened.

Kent ambulance crews were first on the scene. Three fire and rescue crews, one from Larkfield and two from Maidstone, were called at around 12.50pm on Wednesday.

The little girl received about 60 per cent burns to her body and severe burns to her hands. Her mother’s hands were also badly burned.

Both were taken out of the house for a check-up by paramedics and the youngster was taken to Maidstone Hospital for further treatment.

Lead Maidstone firefighter David Giuralarocca said: "It looks like a candle caught light to some clothing. It ignited first the clothing, then the three-year-old. It was an accident."

Ambulance spokeswoman Liz Spiers said she believed the youngster will have been transferred to another hospital but could not confirm where.