Additional reporting by Max Chesson

A gran fled her bungalow when a devastating fire broke out, believed to have been sparked by a heat lamp.

Pictures showed huge flames and thick black smoke coming from the property in The Warren, Whitstable, this morning.

Five fire engines and a height vehicle attended at about 7.30am and crews, wearing breathing apparatus, used main jets and hose reel jets to extinguish the blaze.

The volunteer response team also attended to support the residents and the crews.

Speaking to KentOnline at the scene, station manager Nick Gammon said: “We believe the fire started in the porch to the side [of the bungalow] accidentally by a heat lamp.

“This spread into the roof and into the kitchen of the property.”

Mr Gammon says a woman in the chalet bungalow had evacuated before they arrived and she was passed into the care of paramedics for precautionary checks. The fire, which also spread to a neighbour’s lean-to, was out at 9.36am.

He added: “We always urge anyone, if they find a fire in their property, to leave immediately if safe to do so and dial 999.

“We advise everyone to keep any sources of heat away from any flammable materials in their property.”

The homeowner’s granddaughter told KentOnline at the scene that her grandmother - who is 75, and will now be staying with relatives - was grateful to neighbours for having raised the alarm and to the firefighters for tackling the fire so swiftly.

Residents were seen staring in shock at the devastating blaze.

Firefighters were also pictured on the roof of the building.

A spokesperson for the South East Coast Ambulance Service said: “We were called shortly after 8am to assist the Kent Fire and Rescue Service at reports of a fire at a bungalow in The Warren, Whitstable.

“Crews assessed and treated one patient at the scene before discharging them from our care.”

A police spokesperson added: “Officers were called at around 7.50am to attend The Warren in Whitstable, where they assisted Kent Fire and Rescue Service at the scene of a fire.”