Fire crews from Dartford were called out last night after a dishwasher went up in flames.

Two fire engines were sent to the house in Milestone Road at 10.18pm.

Crews found the occupants, a couple with a young child, had escaped their home thanks to the fire alarm going off.

Dartford watch manager Graeme Walkling said: “Fortunately the property had working smoke alarms which did their job and alerted the family to the danger.

“Their landlord, who lived in a neighbouring property, had attempted to put the fire out using with a garden hose, managing to knock the fire back down.

"But my advice to anyone unfortunate enough to discover a fire in their home is to get out, stay out and call us out. We have the training and equipment to deal with it.

“Once again, this incident highlights that the best protection you can have against fire is a working smoke alarm – without it, the fire could have gone unnoticed and ended very differently.”

The blaze caused damage to the kitchen and smoke damage to the rest of the property.

Crews left the property just before 11pm.