FIREFIGHTERS have reiterated the value of installing smoke detectors after a family was warned of a blaze that had began in a dishwasher at their home in Barming, near Maidstone.

Fire crews called to the incident in St Andrew's Road say the family were still in their beds when the detectors went off in the early hours of Monday.

The blaze, started by an electrical fault, was confined to the dishwasher. Sub Officer Alan Stark said: "If they hadn't been made aware the outcome could have been a lot different."

He added: "Smoke detectors really do save lives."