A child sparked a kitchen blaze after putting a toy in the microwave.

The fire started after the youngster put a toy bowl in the oven and switched it on, causing it to catch alight.

The smoke alarms in the property alerted the child’s mother to the blaze and she phoned 999.

Two fire engines from Medway were sent to the terraced house in Balmoral Road at 2.35pm yesterday and firefighters wearing breathing apparatus used a hose reel to extinguish the small fire.

Crew Manager, Darryl Spicer, said: “The kitchen can be a very dangerous room for young children who are naturally curious and imitate people around them. My advice would be to make your kitchen a child-free zone unless you are supervising them at all times.

“This incident once again highlights the importance of having working smoke alarms in your home, they really can and do save lives.”

The fire was limited to the kitchen and the mother suffered a slight burn to her hand and arm.