A woman was forced out of her home after a fire broke out in the basement.

The blaze spread to cause extensive damage to two floors of the property in Victoria Road, Chatham, and is believed to have been caused by the main electrical intake over the ceiling.

Fire crews arrived on the scene at 12.14pm this afternoon to find the flames had reached the ground floor through the floorboards and carpet.

Breathing apparatus, a hose reel jet and a main jet was used to extinguish the fire and Red Cross Volunteers were on hand to rehome a woman.

Two fire engines were needed and left the property at just before 1pm.