A man had to be treated for breathing in smoke when an unattended candle sparked a small fire.

The incident happened in the bedroom of a three-storey house in Tarragon Road, Maidstone, at 7.15am this morning.

Firefighters used breathing apparatus and a hose reel jet to put the fire out, and a ventilation fan to clear smoke.

The man, who is in his 30s, was taken to Maidstone Hospital as a precaution with minor smoke inhilation.

Maidstone watch manager, Chris Puxted, said: “It is believed the candle had been lit for religious purposes but then the homeowner had gone on the school run, leaving her older teenage daughter in the property. When the smoke alarm sounded, the girl left her home and alerted her neighbour, who went into the house and threw water over the fire but breathed in smoke in the process.”

Crews left the scene at 7.40am.