A mother and her four month old baby were led to safety from their Gillingham flat last night after a fire broke out in the property below.

Fire crews were called to the scene in Selbourne Road at 10:40pm. Two fire engines from Medway and Strood attended.

The fire is believed to have been started by a cigarette after the occupant in the ground floor flat was smoking in bed.

Fortunately a neighbour living opposite heard the smoke alarm, saw smoke and phoned 999.

Medway Watch Manager, Jim Ramsden, said: “The fire was out when we arrived and neighbours had led the woman and her baby to safety via a smoke filled stairway."

The baby girl was given oxygen at the scene by paramedics.

Mr Ramsden said: "Just three breaths of fire smoke can be fatal, even for a young and healthy adult but babies, children and older people are most at risk if a fire breaks out in their home, as their bodies are even less able to cope.

He added: “There’s no doubt that having a working smoke alarm makes all the difference as the woman and her child might not have had such a lucky escape.

"Smokers also need to be aware of the risks of smoking in the home and how easily this can lead to fires.”