Two dogs have died in a blaze spreading across a row of terraced houses.

About 20 firefighters from across Medway were called to West Street, Gillingham, shortly after 8am.

As crews arrived on the scene large amounts of smoke could be seen billowing from the building.

The fire spread into the roof voids of the property but crews managed to stop it spreading through the roof void of adjacent homes.

A height vehicle was also used as a water tower to put out the blaze from the outside and the cause of it is being treated as accidental.

The blaze is believed to have started in a ground floor extension and spread to the roof and first floor of the home.

Three fire engines and a height vehicle remain on the scene, but it is expected their attendance will be scaled down shortly.

The home and its roof have been severely damaged by fire and some smoke spread to an adjacent house.

The people who live in the house were uninjured, and are now being helped by the British Red Cross support unit.

However two dogs died as a result of the blaze.

One resident had watched crews battled to contain the blaze.

"The back half of the house is completely gutted, "she said. "The fire was awful. I thought it was my house at first - because I woke up smelling smoke and hearing fire engines.

"We were scared and came running out. The firefighters did amazing to put it out, but it took a couple of hours.

"It was terrible waiting and wondering if anyone was in there. Apparently there were two dogs and eight cats inside but they can't account for the cats, because they might have been able to jump out."

Another nearby resident described emotional scenes as the fire took hold.

She said: "I was feeding my four month old baby in my bedroom when I could hear the neighbour banging on a front door really loud, so I looked out the window and could see smoke coming from the house opposite mine.

"I went down the stairs with my baby and went to the front door. The neighbours were on the phone to fire brigade, also banging on the door to make sure no one was inside. The fire brigade turned up within minutes and kicked down the door. They pulled out a small dog I burst into tears as I could see this small dog laying on the floor lifeless. The fireman then went in the house to put the fire out.

"The woman that lived in the house then came running down the road as a neighbour called her at work to inform her that her house was on fire. She was crying and cuddling her dog on the floor telling the fireman there is another dog inside. This dog has unfortunately died too. The woman then went into the neighbour's house to be comforted and to wait for her husband."