A woman had to be rescued by fire crews during the night after a house fire broke out - believed to have been started by a discarded cigarette.

Two fire engines were called to the home in Hardres Street, Ramsgate, after the blaze started in a bedroom.

The home had no working smoke alarms but as the bedroom door was shut the fire was contained to that room.

A fire service spokesman said: "Kent Fire and Rescue Service responded to a fire in Hardres Street, Ramsgate at 1.22am.

"Firefighters were quickly on the scene to find a woman had climbed out of her first floor bedroom window and was standing on the roof of a bay window.

"Crews pitched a 10m ladder and brought the woman to safety. Her adult son had managed to get out of the property, prior to KFRS’ arrival."

Both were checked over at the scene by paramedics and the woman was treated for the effects of breathing in smoke.

Teams wearing breathing equipment went into the house and used a thermal imaging camera and a high pressure hose reel to put out the fire on the first floor.

A special fan was also used to clear smoke.

Crews moved damaged items to the garden and isolated the power and water.

The remainder of the first floor was affected by smoke, and the ground floor and basement suffered water damage due to a pipe failing during the fire.