A 26-year-old woman fell from a second floor window as she tried to escape a fire in a block of flats.

The woman was among several people who were in the flats above shops in Lower Stone Street, Maidstone, when fire broke out at about 5.15pm on Christmas Eve.

As the flames took hold in a room on the first floor the woman was seen calling for help from the window before she fell about 30ft down to the road.

She was taken to Maidstone Hospital suffering from a head injury.

Others who were inside at the time, including a woman and two children, escaped the building with no injuries. But their possessions were severely damaged by smoke and fire.

They were offered bed and breakfast accommodation by Maidstone Borough Council.

A total of six fire engines were called to the incident.

Crews from Green Watch donned breathing apparatus to do a thorough search of the three-storey building in hot, smoky and cramped conditions. They then used one hose reel and two main jets to put the fire out.

Lower Stone Street was closed for several hours and traffic was diverted via Romney Place.

Maidstone firefighters are still investigating the incident, but early indications suggest a candle caused the blaze.

Firefighter Richard Howe said: “We would ask everyone at this time of year not to leave candles unattended and to keep them away from flammables.”

There were no smoke alarms in the building.

Mr Howe added: “We do offer free smoke alarm fittings and we do urge that all properties have at least one working smoke alarm. Perhaps it would have given the woman who fell an early warning and she could have walked out of the building.”

Fire crews remained at the scene until about 8.15pm.