A man has spoken of the fantastic neighbourly spirit after two women and six animals were rescued from a burning house.

Mark and Sally Rippingale were the first on the scene when the fire began ripping through a kitchen and into the roof of a property in The Parade, Greatstone.

The fire service said the blaze, which started just before 11.40am, was treated as accidental and took nearly three hours to tackle.

The Rippingales and other neighbours were able to put the flames out on the cooker’s hob, but by this time the fire had spread up the chimney flue and into the roof.

They had already begun taking out two dogs from downstairs and two upstairs at the back of the house.

A fish tank was also saved and firefighters also managed to rescue a tortoise.

Mr Rippingale, a volunteer at Dungeness RNLI station, said: “I was told by my neighbour that her kitchen was on fire.

"It is like a little village where everyone helps each other" - Mark Rippingale

“Me and my wife and others ran over there with an extinguisher, but there was nothing we could do. The whole house was filled with smoke.

“Once we got them outside, that was it. Smoke was coming from the fascia. We had to wait for the fire brigade.

“We got everyone and the animals out, that was the main priority. Bricks, water and some possessions can be replaced but lives cannot.”

Four fire engines arrived including a height vehicle and crews wearing breathing apparatus put the fire out using a hose and main jet.

A thermal imaging camera was also used while crews damped down and checked for any other hotspots.

Once outside, Mr Rippingale required oxygen for the effects of breathing in smoke.

“They call it a close-knit community,” he said.

“It is like a little village where everyone helps each other.”

He said once the blaze had been put out, neighbours rallied round to clear the front of the property, which has since been boarded up.

Residents also offered to take in the animals after the fire.

The road was closed for hours and bus services had to re-route to access other parts of Romney Marsh.