A pet dog may have saved the life of a mum and baby after fire tore through a flat in the early hours.

The blaze broke out in a ground floor flat in Bell Road, Maidstone, and quickly spread to the second floor then the roof.

The woman, who does not want to be named said her pet dog came into her bedroom after the fire had spread to her flat.

She added: "I’m still coming to terms with it. It’s all a bit of a daze. I was half a sleep and the dog came in and I could smell the smoke.

"The fire and the flames were in my property. I knew I had to get out and get my baby out. I don’t know how badly damaged my belongings are or the baby's stuff is. We haven’t been able to get in and have a look."

Four fire engines 16 firefighters and three officers were called to the scene.

A joint investigation has been launched by Kent Fire and Rescue and Kent police into the cause of the blaze.

Read more: All the latest news from Maidstone