Heroic firefighters rescued a pet rat after a glass ornament directing sunlight onto curtains sparked a blaze.

Kent Fire and Rescue Service Crews were called to a second floor flat in Sherwood Road, Tunbridge Wells, shortly before 11am.

A neighbour had spotted smoke coming from a friend's window and phoned 999 and two fire engines were immediately sent arriving at the property within minutes of receiving the call.

Firefighters went into the flat and found the smoke alarms sounding and the lounge heavily smoke logged, which they ventilated.

The fire is believed to have started after a glass ornament was left on the window ledge reflecting the sunlight onto curtains, which started smouldering.

The owner of the flat was out at the time of the fire and crews saved her pet rat.

The fire destroyed the curtains which fell to the floor and caused a small amount of heat damage to the back of the sofa.