AN ELDERLY couple escaped unhurt when their garage caught fire and smoke-logged their house.

Police are investigating after a pile of rubbish caught alight at around 3.15am on Friday. It had been pushed against the door of the garage at Crow Hill Road, Garlinge, near Margate.

The garage contents ignited and thick smoke filled the home through an open door.

Prompt action by neighbours in Crow Hill Road, minimised the consequences of the incident.

They alerted the emergency services and helped an elderly man from his bed to safety outside. His wife had been able to get out by herself. The couple suffered shock but were otherwise unharmed.

The neighbours also tried to douse the fire with buckets of water. Firefighters attended from the Margate and Thanet stations. A spokesman said: "The people who stepped in to help here did a wonderful job by all accounts and things could have been much worse if they hadn't been involved."