Fire services were called out to a kitchen fire this morning which was caused by a box of crisps.

Two fire engines rushed to a first floor maisonette in Brookfield Road at 9.30am to find that a multi-pack box of crisps had been set alight after being left on a hob and the cooker accidentally switched on.

Ashford Watch Manager, Kevin Surridge said: “The household left their home but the man and woman went back inside after borrowing a fire extinguisher from a neighbour.

"They were given oxygen as the scene before being handed into the care of South East Coast Ambulance Service.”

Two firefighters in breathing apparatus used a hose reel to damp down the small fire and a special fan to clear the smoke.

The small fire caused minor smoke damage throughout the maisonette and fire crews left the property just before 11am.

Kevin added: “This incident highlights the need to take extra care in the kitchen, please don’t use your cooker as an extra storage space.

"If you have an electric hob it’s worth switching it off at the power socket when not in use, especially if you have young children or pets in the house who might knock the switch on accidentally.”