A pensioner was taken to hospital with breathing difficulties after a house fire in Maidstone.

The blaze broke out in the kitchen of a two storey property in Westmorland Road just before midnight.

When firefighters arrived at the home they found a 73-year-old man waiting outside and suffering from the effects of breathing in smoke.

He received oxygen therapy and was then handed over to paramedics and taken to Maidstone Hospital.

Crews extinguished the fire by 1am. The property was left damaged by fire and smoke.

The Red Cross Volunteers were also in attendance to support the man at the scene.