Three people have been taken to hospital following a house fire.

Residents were woken by the smell of smoke billowing into Cromwell Road in Whitstable last night.

The fire service and ambulance crews descended on the street shortly after 11pm after a neighbour reportedly raised the alarm after spotting flames “coming out into the street” from a home.

Resident and writer Julie Wassmer says there were about 20 neighbours on the street who were “very anxious” – one of whom had alerted the fire service.

“Shortly before midnight, we were woken by the smell of smoke so we checked the kitchen and realised it was outside,” she said.

“We looked out the window and there were fire engines, ambulances and all our neighbours out on the street, which was cordoned off.

“There was smoke everywhere and one of our neighbours said the flames were coming out into the street.

“She said they had to break down doors to get in as people must have been asleep.

“It affected at least two of the houses.”

A fire service spokesman says four fire engines attended and crews wearing breathing apparatus used hose reel jets and main jets to extinguish the flames.

“Firefighters rescued one person from the property, who was passed into the care of the ambulance service for suspected smoke inhalation,” they said.

“Two other people were also treated by paramedics after breathing in smoke.

“The other injuries were reported, and the cause is not yet known.”

A spokesman for the ambulance service said: “We were called by Kent Fire and Rescue to reports of a house fire in Cromwell Road, Whitstable, at about 11.10pm yesterday.

“Ambulance crews attended and three patients were assessed and treated before being taken to QEQM Hospital in Margate.”

No further details could be provided on their conditions.