A man was taken to hospital after fire ripped through a block of flats in Rochester, burning through the floor and ceiling.

The blaze broke out in a ground floor flat in La Providence just before 1am on Friday.

Three fire engines rushed to the scene and saw flames from the "well developed" fire coming out of a first-floor window.

Everyone was out of the building when crews arrived and one man was given oxygen by firefighters before being taken to hospital for precautionary checks.

A Kent Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said: "Three fire engines were sent to the property at around 1am and arrived within minutes of receiving the 999 call. They were met with a well-developed fire with flames coming out of a first floor window.

"The on-site safety warden had done a good job of evacuating neighbouring properties and calmly moving the residents to a place of safety.

"Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus fought the blaze internally and externally using a main jet, hose reel and positive pressure ventilation fan.

"The flames and intense heat from the fire caused extensive damage to the property and had burnt through the floor and ceiling."

The cause of the fire is being investigated.