A man has died after a fire broke out in a flat in Gillingham.

Firefighters were called to James Street at around 3am today to reports of smoke coming from a flat.

Crews found the first and second floors above Swagga & Style hairdressers well alight.

A man, believed to be in his 40s, was rescued from the property and was given first aid by paramedics, but he died at the scene.

A police spokesman said: “Police were called to a report of a fire in James Street, Gillingham at 3:16am on September 20. One man has died and officers remain at the scene this morning.”

The cause of the fire is to be investigated by Kent Police and the Kent Fire and Rescue Service, but it's not being treated as suspicious.

A neighbour who didn't want to be named said the first he knew about it was when firefighters started banging on doors in the early hours telling everyone to get out.

He said: "He was a lovely man, a really good friend."

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