A woman had to be rescued after her house caught alight in the early hours of this morning.

The fire broke out in Headcorn Road, Staplehurst, at around 3.24am.

Four pumps from Marden, Headcorn, Cranbrook and Maidstone attended and found the back of the property on fire. The blaze had also spread to the roof space.

The woman was rescued and was suffering from smoke inhalation.

A Kent Police spokesman said the fire also spread to the house next door.

At the moment the cause is still unknown and Headcorn Road was earlier shut to traffic.