THREE people had a miraculous escape when fire severely damaged their house in a Kent town in the early hours of Saturday.

Marianne Ali and James Hudgell had been watching television in a bedroom when Marianne's son Simon Overy, 22, spotted smoke coming up the stairs of the property in New Road, Minster, Sheppey, just after 1.30am.

They managed to make their way to safety, but needed emergency oxygen treatment from firefighters.

Three crews from Sheppey and Sittingbourne attended and used breathing apparatus to tackle the blaze, which destroyed most of the ground floor and caused extensive smoke damage.

The three were examined by Red Cross officers before a South East Coast ambulance arrived, but they did not need hospital treatment. Two pet cockatiels and a tank of goldish died in the fire, but their cat, Tibbles, escaped.

The fire is thought to have started in an understairs electricity cupboard. Firefighters believe it was caused by an electrical fault, but are still investigating.

A fire crew remained on the scene until 5.15am.

Sheppey firefighter Dave Hewitt said the residents had a lucky escape as no smoke alarms were fitted in the property.