A houseboat owner had a lucky escape after he fell asleep while cooking some chips and a fire broke out on his home.

The 54-year-old man, who has not been named, had to be treated for smoke inhalation after a blaze broke out on his 40ft boat, moored on the River Medway at Borstal.

The houseboat, at Medway Bridge Marina in Rochester, has been completely destroyed by the fire which started at about 11.30pm yesterday.

Crews from Strood, Medway and Thameside spent two hours at the scene fighting the flames, and had to use water from the River Medway to completely douse the flames.

The owner was taken to hospital after the incident and firefighters say he was lucky he woke up during the blaze.

A spokesman for Kent Fire and Rescue Service, said: "The heat woke him up, he was very lucky it did.

"The boat which was made of Fibreglass and wood has been destroyed.

"The message is simple, don’t fall asleep and leave cooking unattended."