A 450-year-old house could have been completely destroyed by fire, were it not for scaffolding.

A blaze broke out at a three storey house in Queen Street, Paddock Wood, at 1.25pm.

Four fire engines were sent and fire fighters managed to quickly get to the roof thanks to the scaffolding.

Station manager Lawrence Pater said: "On arrival we were confronted with smoke coming from the roof.

"The crews used the scaffolding to gain access and acted quickly to expose and extinguish the fire.

"We ordered a height vehicle and two more pumps and the crews managed to hold the fire back until they arrived.

"If you go inside the building, there's hardly any damage. If the scaffolding wasn't there we would have to work out one side, and then another in a very individual way."

The fire started in the roof at the front of the property, although the cause is not yet known.

Home owner Steve Holt, who was not inside at the time, said: "I would like to thank the fire service, they did a brilliant job and were here very quickly, which is reassuring given this house is quote isolated."

The scene was declared safe at around 3.30pm.