A DOG dog was rescued from a smoke-logged kitchen after a neighbour heard a smoke alarm.

Max, a 12-year-old mongrel, was home alone in Apple Close, Ham Hill, near Snodland, at about 11am on Wednesday when the fire broke out.

An alert neighbour heard the alarm sounding and telephoned the emergency services. When firefighters from Larkfield and Strood arrived they broke into the property to find one hot hound. Max was unharmed, but eager to leave the property.

The fire, which appeared to have started from food cooking on the hob, caused damage to the kitchen and some of the property. Nobody was harmed. The food appears to have been left on the cooker accidentally.

Liam Hudson, station commander at Larkfield, said: “This incident shows the value of having working smoke alarms.

“Even if you are out a well-sited and maintained smoke detector can still raise the alarm - saving lives and minimising damage to property. It also highlights the importance of not leaving cooking unattended.”