A woman was taken to hospital with breathing difficulties following a fire at her home.

The woman, who is in her 40s, was treated after the blaze in St James Road, Isle of Grain, in the early hours of this morning, Monday.

The fire, which is being blamed on a faulty dishwasher that had been left on overnight, spread to kitchen worktops and a washing machine.

Firefighters from Grain and Strood fire stations used a high pressure hose reel to tackle the fire in the kitchen.

It was the latest in a series of fires in the county over the past couple of days that led to Kent Fire and Rescue chiefs issuing an urgent safety warning over electrical appliances

Director of community safety Steve Griffiths said: “The risk of fire in the home is a year-round issue, but people are particularly vulnerable at this time of year as we begin to use more electrical products, such dishwashers to get through the mountains of washing up from festive parties and an increased use of power strips and adaptors to feed Christmas lights and other electricals.

“But as we’ve see by these incidents, fires can break out in electrical appliances and power outlets with very little warning.

"For this reason, I would strongly recommend that homeowners fit and maintain a smoke alarm to alert you to a fire in your home and to never operate white goods such as dishwashers, tumble dryers or washing machines while out of the property or overnight.”