Four people have been rescued after fire broke out in a block of flats in the early hours of this morning.

More than twenty firefighters battled the blaze that started in a ground floor flat in Sweyn Road, Margate, at about 2.40am.

Four fire engines rushed to the scene from across Thanet, and crews found thick smoke billowing from the flat.

Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus used water to tackle the flames, locating hot spots with a thermal imaging camera.

Crews also used a positive pressure fan to minimise smoke damage in the three-storey block as far as possible.

The fire was out by 3.40am.