Food left cooking in an oven caught fire this evening forcing a family to flee their home.

Firefighters were called to a house in Gun Road, Gravesend, at about 6pm after the meal started a blaze in the kitchen.

Alerted by a smoke alarm, the family had turned off the oven and evacuated the flat by the time crews arrived.

Firefighters used a thermal imaging camera to check for fire and ventilated the flat to clear the smoke.

A Kent Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said: "Fortunately, the damage was minimal and the residents did exactly the right thing.

"If you're cooking over the festive period, please take extra care, if you leave the room, switch the cooker off and stay safe."