Twenty firefighters were called to a tower block at Chatham Quays in the early hours of this morning after a man living on the fifth floor dozed off leaving his stir-fry on the stove.

A neighbour at the high rise-flats, in Marine Point East, dialled 999 after hearing his smoke alarm go off at about 4.45am.

Despite the noise and fire crews hammering on his door, the tenant in his 40s initially could not be strirred.

Watch manager Paul Nash, from Medway fire station, said: "We could see the smoke and we were just on the point of breaking down the door when he stumbed to open it.

"Let this be a lesson. Don't go out, cook a meal, fall asleep especially when you live in a tower block.

"The situation did prove quite an exercise for us."

Crews from Medway, Strood and Hoo spent an hour at the apartment.