Firefighters are warning householders to cook with safety in mind following a fire in Minster-in-Thanet.

They advised all residents to fit a working smoke alarm after a man in his late 50s was burnt in the kitchen fire at his Way Hill home in the early hours of Friday morning.

A spokesman for Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) said: "It's believed the occupant fell asleep while using a chip pan, which caught fire shortly afterwards. Fortunately a neighbour spotted smoke pouring from the man's home and called 999.

"Although smoke alarms had been fitted in the property, the batteries had been removed, rendering them useless.

"Fortunately the man was roused by his neighbours' calls but before trying to escape his smoke-filled home, he attempted to tackle the fire himself, suffering burns in the process."

The injured man, who also suffered smoke inhalation, was treated at the scene, while fire fighters wearing breathing apparatus tackled the blaze.

Ramsgate station manager Garry Lovejoy, who attended the fire, said: "This man was really lucky because without the actions of his neighbour who saw the fire and dialled 999, the consequences could have been far worse.

“As these incidents prove, it's easy to lose concentration while cooking, especially if it's late at night. It takes a very short space of time for a pan to overheat or for a grill pan to set light to something that has been left on top of a cooker.

"Sadly, we often see people getting hurt as a result of these types of incidents which are all preventable."

• For fire safety advice and free home safety visits, duringwhich smoke alarms canbe fitted free of charge, call 0800 9237000 or visit www.kent.fire-uk.org.