A NEWLY decorated flat was left badly damaged after a chip pan caught fire in a flat above Redds hairdressers in Crescent Road, Tunbridge Wells.

The alarm was raised at around 1.15 on Thursday after frozen chips were apparently placed directly into hot fat, causing it to ignite and set fire to an extractor hood.

No one was hurt, although the hairdressers and nearby properties were evacuated as a precaution, and firefighters from Tunbridge Wells were quickly on the scene. They used two sets of breathing apparatus while tackling the blaze.

Sub Officer John Wheeler said: "Unfortunately the flat had only recently been redecorated, and smoke damage was caused throughout.

"Chip pans are becoming less common these days, but when used we advise that they are only filled a third full, only small batches of chips are cooked at a time, and if it flares up, don’t try to move it.

"Water should never be used to try to put out such a fire, and while it may be possible to use a lid or metal tray to cover the fire, the best advice is get out, call the fire service out and stay out until we’ve dealt with it."