A family barbecue almost ended in disaster after briquettes sparked a fire in a compost bin.

Residents at the Northdown Road, Broadstairs, property were alerted to the fire by the sound of their kitchen window cracking due to the heat from the blaze.

There were no working smoke alarms fitted in the house which now has damage to soffits, facia and guttering.

The residents phoned 999 at about 5am and left the property.

A man attempted to put out the fire with a garden hose while they waited for fire crews to arrive.

Two fire engines from Margate and Ramsgate were sent to the house to put out the flames.

Margate crew manager Gary Miller said: “We extinguished the remaining fire using a hose reel jet and used a thermal imaging camera to check for fire spread and hot spots within the voids of the timber framed extension.

“Luckily the residents woke when they did, as there were no working smoke alarms in the house..." Gary Miller

“Luckily the residents woke when they did, as there were no working smoke alarms in the house to wake them from their sleep.

"These life-saving devices are essential in every home and your first defence against fire."

The bin that caught fire was stored against the side of a timber framed extension on the house and Mr Miller said he recommended that compost and other bins of this kind were not kept next to buildings, fencing and decking areas.

He added: "This will help to reduce the risk of fire spread should a fire occur.”

Fire crews fitted two smoke alarms in the property before leaving at about 5.30am.