A MAN died in a house fire at Sittingbourne in the early hours of Sunday. A woman and two children escaped the blaze and were being treated for inhaling smoke.

The tragedy happened at The Meads Avenue , on the town's Quinton estate, at about 12.30am.

The mid-terraced Swale Housing Association property was totally destroyed in the blaze.

A fire brigade spokesman said: "The cause of the blaze is not yet known but an investigation is underway.

"Three pumps were immediately sent to the scene, two from Sittingbourne fire station and one from Teynham. Another fire engine was despatched from Faversham soon after, bringing the number of firefighters in attendance to 20. A specialist support unit was also sent from Maidstone."

Shocked neighbours on Sunday gathered outside the wrecked home.

Alf Scamp, 17, said: "The woman knocked on my door and she was desperate for help. It was originally a small fire in the lounge which I could see through the front window but it spread rapidly and the flames were soon as high as the house. Everybody was panicking but there was nothing we could do."

Another neighbour, Jacquiline Warren said: "I heard the fire so came running out. It was just terrible."

* Eleven years ago a woman and her three children died in a house fire within sight of Sunday's blaze. That house and the neighbouring property had to be raised to the ground and the site is now a memorial garden.