A mum and her three children had to be taken to hospital after suffering from the effects of suspected carbon monoxide poisoning.

The family had been sleeping in their home in Halling when their carbon monoxide alarm started going off at about 3am this morning, and fire crews say this helped save their lives.

Firefighters were called out to the house in Vicarage Road by the woman, who had managed to get her three girls out of bed and out of the property.

Two of them were suffering from severe headaches.

The woman had managed to open all the windows and doors to the home by the time the crew from Strood fire station had arrived at the scene.

A spokesman for Kent Fire and Rescue Service, said: “She had managed to turn of the gas inside and open all the windows as the alarm had alerted them.

“Two of them were suffering from severe headaches and we gave them oxygen before they were put in two ambulances and taken to Medway Maritime Hospital to get checked over and tested for carbon monoxide poisoning.

“It was a good job they had an alarm as it got them out of the house in time and has save their lives.

“All homes which have gas fires or boilers should have a carbon monoxide alarm and this home had an old gas fire.

“The gas company then came out to turn off the gas mains to the property and we left the scene at about 5am.”