A neighbour has described how he rescued a woman from a burning house but could not save two dogs who died in the blaze.

Smoke and flames engulfed the property in Boarmans Lane in Brookland at 5.15am but a pensioner escaped after she was rescued by her next door neighbour.

Alan MacDonald climbed a ladder to reach 76-year-old Jackie Wakelin who was stuck in the house before going back to try and rescue the dogs.

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Mr MacDonald, 68, managed to get her down the ladder and took her to his house for shelter.

He scrambled again up the ladder to rescue two trapped dogs but could not save them after they were overwhelmed by thick black smoke.

He described how he saw smoke pouring from the terraced property after hearing screams for help.

VIDEO: Hero Alan MacDonald describes how he rescued 76-year-old woman and her two dogs

He said: “I was in bed and heard a woman’s voice shouting for help. I came out and found smoke pouring out of the window.

“I got my wife to call the fire brigade got a ladder and went to reach her.

“I was fearful there might be an explosion but the smoke was thick and black. I couldn’t even see because of it and I knew they [the dogs] could not be saved.”

Firefighters treated Mr MacDonald with oxygen once they arrived at the scene.

Crews wearing breathing apparatus entered the property to tackle the flames on the first floor using a hosereel and covering jet.

Kent Fire and Rescue Service said the dogs were given oxygen therapy but sadly died at the scene.

It is understood one of the dogs belonged to Mrs Wakelin and she was dogsitting the other.

The fire service are treating the cause of the fire as accidental.

It is believed the flames started in an airing cupboard caused by an electrical fault.

Fire crews were at the scene for an hour and a half.