Two dogs were rescued after a fire broke out in the loft of a house this morning.

Four fire engines were called to a house in Summerson Close, Rochester, at 10.15am after a fire broke out.

Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus tackled the blaze, which started in the loft after a light was left on.

This was close to paint and building filler, which ignited.

Part of the roof collapsed in the blaze and there was some smoke damage in the loft.

The dogs, thought to be Staffordshire Bull Terriers, were in the property next door and were evacuated as a precaution.

One resident said: "At around 10am delivery van men and passersby alerted residents of Summerson Close of smoke billowing from the roof tiles of one of the terraced houses.

"Residents with properties joined to the one on fire were evacuated immediately."

Two fire engines were still on the scene at noon and firefighters were in the loft carrying out salvage work and checking for hot spots.

They also carried out an assessment of the two-storey property using a thermal imaging camera.