Firefighters are warning people to unravel their extension leads after it is thought one could have caused a fire.

Crews from Sittingbourne went to a house in Connaught Road, Sittingbourne, at 3.36pm yesterday after residents raised the alarm.

A tumble dryer had become alight and the flames had "completely gutted" the utility room.

Kev Ford, crew manager, said: "We're still investigating the cause but it could have been an extension lead.

"The trouble with them is if they're not unravelled properly they can become like a heating element and get really hot.

"You're meant to uncoil it, so if you've got a 25 metre one and are only using a bit of it, you're supposed to unroll it the whole way."

The residents were in the garden at the time but heard the smoke detectors go off.

One of their cats got itself out of the house but another was rescued by the crews and required an oxygen mask.

Two fire engines used a hose, fan and breathing apparatus and were there for around half an hour.