FIRE crews wearing breathing apparatus rescued a dog and her five puppies from a smoke-filled bungalow at the weekend.

They were called to the house in St Andrew's Close, Whitstable, shortly before midday on Saturday after an automatic fire alarm was activated.

The occupiers were out but a heated pan had accidently been left on the stove which filled the kitchen with thick smoke. A key holder for the sheltered housing accommodation was at the scene and fire fighters quickly gained access.

They found a Staffordshire bull terrier and the four-week-old pups in the same room and quickly carried them to safety.

A fire spokesman said: "We gave them a bit of oxygen because the smoke had been pretty dense and then they were taken to a veterinary surgeon. But I understand they are all okay."

The bungalow suffered some smoke-damage. Afterwards dog owner Chris Dadge said: "It was a silly thing to leave the pan on, but we went out and forgot about it.

"We arrived back after it was all over but I am very grateful to the firemen for saving Jem and her pups. They did a fantastic job."