A gran looking after her two young grandchildren raised the alarm after a fire broke out in her Strood home last night.

Firefighters were called to her house in Grasmere Grove just after 7.30pm after clothes caught alight in a utility room.

The woman in her 50s was with a boy and girl, believed to be under the age of five.

Crew manager Pete Sanderson, said: "Everyone remained calm, considering the circumstances. And thankfully the smoke alarm was working.

"Once again, I would stress that smoke alarms save lives."

The fire was contained to the room and was under control in about 45 minutes.