It was more like Kent Fur and Rescue Service as crews saved three kittens from a fire in a Maidstone home.

A neighbour raised the alarm just after 9am last Sunday when smoke was spotted billowing from the Tennison Way property.

Red Watch rescued three-week-old kittens Charlie, Squeaker and Dumbo from the smoke-filled property just off Sutton Road, while adult cats Oakley, their mother, and Princess escaped through the back door.

The Arnold family had left their mid-terrace house an hour before the fire broke out to go to a theme park for a birthday party.

Mum Tay Arnold, 31, said: “Our whole family are hugely grateful to everyone who assisted with the kittens’ rescue, particularly our neighbour Matt Rose, who called the fire brigade, and Sally Seymour, who took the kittens to the vets for us with her daughter Poppy.

“I’d also like to thank the fire brigade for saving our house and cats and encourage everyone to ensure they have a working smoke alarm fitted as this is what alerted people to the fire.”

Crew manager Dominic Moore said it highlighted the importance of working smoke alarms, without which the pets may have died.

He added: “Please get into the habit of unplugging appliances and electrical equipment when not in use, unless they are designed to be left on.”

The blaze, which is believed to have been caused by water leaking on to a socket, damaged part of the kitchen and began to melt the nearby gas pipe.

Tay, husband Jeff, 32, and sons five-year-old Ben and Hugo, three, were left with no heating or water and had to move in to temporary accommodation until Tuesday.

Crews cleared smoke from the property before travelling to their next job of the day, attending the remembrance service at The Cenotaph in London.

They tackled the fire wearing suits under their uniforms and with a wreath on their engine.