Eight people, including a toddler, were rescued after a fire at a six-storey block of flats in Chatham.

More than 25 firefighters tackled the blaze at Samuels Tower in Longhill Avenue last night, just before 6pm.

Police are treating the fire as suspicious.

Martin Parrett, 27, was rescued from his top floor flat by firefighters using the height vehicle ladder. He said: “As soon as I got to the window, I saw flames and that’s when I called the fire brigade.”

When the fire broke out, Mr Parrett’s girlfriend and two-year-old daughter were with neighbours and were rescued by a firefighter who led them to safety.

An ambulance spokesman said four people were treated at the scene but no one was seriously hurt. A team from the British Red Cross also attended.

Fire crews stayed at the scene identifying hot spots with thermal imaging cameras and cutting away material to allow the fire to be completely extinguished.