Residents were evacuated and a dog was rescued after a blaze broke out in a four-storey block of flats.

Six fire engines and a height vehicle were sent to Sandpiper Close in Greenhithe, near Dartford, yesterday afternoon.

Firefighters in breathing apparatus tackled the flames in a ground-floor property and prevented the fire from spreading to surrounding flats.

Crews also rescued a Chihauhau from the smoke-logged flat above and were at the scene for almost six hours.

Kent Fire and Rescue Service’s volunteer response team was in attendance to provide support to impacted residents.

There were no reported injuries, and the cause of the fire is not known.

Crews were called out at 3.03pm and the incident was declared over at 8.52pm.