A ready meal caused a kitchen fire at a flat in Chattenden last night.

A crew from Strood station was called to the property in Lodge Hill Lane at around 7pm.

The owner of the flat had taken a ready meal out of the oven and then placed it on the hob, not realising the hob was turned on so the meal caught alight.

The owner had managed to extinguish the flames with a towel before the crew arrived.

A spokesman for Strood station said: “This is not something we would recommend doing. But he, along with his partner and two young children, were unhurt.”

The cooker was partially damaged by the flames and the wall of the kitchen was smoke damaged.

The crew left the scene after 45 minutes.