A caravan has been destroyed by a fire in Birchington while a family of four slept inside.

Fortunately, the mother woke saw the smoke and a glow and quickly evacuated her family.

The father returned to fight the fire in Shottendane Road and was given oxygen therapy by firefighters before being taken to hospital by ambulance suffering from the effects of breathing in smoke.

Firefighters in breathing apparatus used a hose reel to extinguish the fire.

The fire is believed to have been caused by an electrical fault.

The caravan was destroyed by fire, surrounding trees and a car were also damaged by fire.