A man had to be rescued by firefighters after a blaze broke out in his home in Strood.

Firefighters were called to the home in Cross Street at about 11pm after the fire started in a tumble dryer in a timber extension at the back of the property.

Crews from Rochester, Chatham and Strood fire stations were called to the home and used breathing apparatus to enter the property and rescue the sleeping man.

Luckily he had been sleeping in the basement, which was below the line of smoke, but he was taken to hospital suffering from the effects of smoke inhalation.

The crews spent about two hours fighting the fire.

The extension, measuring about six metres by three metres, was destroyed by the flames.