Two houses were badly damaged when fire ripped through a row of terraced properties in Maidstone last night.

It is not known what started the blaze, which broke out in the roof of a house in Upper Fant Road just after 9pm.

The fire quickly spread to two adjoining properties.

A neighbour who was having a barbecue spotted flames coming from the roof and dialled 999.

The occupants of the other houses were alerted to the blaze and escaped by the time fire crews arrived.

Pumps from Maidstone, Larkfield, Paddock Wood, Thameside, Lenham and Headcorn were called to the property which was already well alight.

Twenty firefighters using breathing apparatus entered the building to tackle the flames.

A height vehicle was also put into operation.

It is not yet known what started the blaze, which took more than three hours to bring under control.

Police closed Upper Fant Road while the area was made safe.

One of the roofs was 85 per cent damaged by fire, the other one 40 per cent damaged.

Both houses are said to be uninhabitable.

A third property was less badly affected.

No one was injured in the incident.

Maidstone firefighter Andy Garrett from Blue Watch, said: "The cause of the fire is still being investigated.

"Crews tried to reduce the amount of water damage to the properties.

"This was difficult because of the limited access to the roof areas.

"We salvaged as many of their possessions as we could."