A woman had to be treated for the effects of breathing in too much smoke after a dishwasher burst into flames during the early hours of this morning.

Firefighters were called to Hilltop Road, Wainscott, at about half past midnight where they found the appliance alight in the kitchen of the three-storey terraced home.

The two people who lived there had been able to get themselves out of the property after being alerted by a carbon monoxide detector.

A spokesman for Kent Fire and Rescue Service said: “A woman in her 40s was treated at the scene for breathing difficulties."

She was left in the care of paramedics.

The dishwasher was destroyed and the kitchen suffered extensive smoke damage. Other parts of the house were also damaged by smoke.

Crews fitted smoke alarms in the home before they left shortly after 1am.

The blaze prompted the crew to issue a plea for people to use electrical appliances at better times of the day.

The spokesman added: “The couple were looked after at the scene by the Red Cross volunteers.

“The cause of the blaze was a dishwasher fault.

“Firefighters are appealing to the public to consider revising bedtime routines, by using electrical appliances earlier in the day, and not overnight.

“Switch all appliances off before you climb the stairs.

“Electrical appliances can develop faults that can lead to fires, with devastating, life changing consequences.”