Firefighters spent two hours at the scene of a house fire in the centre of Gillingham.

About 20 firefighters were sent to the terraced property in Nelson Road at about 1.45pm and used breathing apparatus to enter the property to tackle the flames. Four fire engines were sent to the scene and police closed part of the road.

The incident was initially reported to have happened in Napier Road, but police confirmed today the home was in Nelson Road.

The fire broke out while the owners had gone out for a meal at a nearby restaurant.

The emergency services were alerted when a relative, who lives in the same street, spotted smoke coming from the house. When crews arrived they thought it was a chimney fire but discovered it had spread into the loft from a bedroom at the back of the house. They needed to use a height vehicle to tackle the flames.

A spokesman for Kent Fire and Rescue said there was severe fire damage to the bedroom and loft. Other rooms suffered smoke damage and the ground floor suffered water damage.

The owner returned to the property while crews were still there and told them she thought the fire may have been caused by a problem with the wiring to a fish tank in the bedroom.

Police are investigating and officers remained on the scene after firefighters left just before 4pm.

A spokesman for Kent Fire and Rescue Service, said earlier: “The fire is believed to have started in a first floor bedroom at the back of the house and broken through into the roof void.

“Crews are currently exposing hot spots in the loft space.

“The cause of the fire is not known at this stage and there are no reports of any injuries.”