A mum suffered burns to her face, neck and hands after trying to put out a fire at her flat in Gravesend.

The 40-year-old was at her home with her six-year-old daughter in Laburnum Grove when a chip pan caught alight in the kitchen, sparking the blaze.

After discovering the fire, she carried the burning pan of hot oil to the sink where she poured cold water on the flames, causing it to flare up and burn her.

Two crews from Thames-side fire station attended at 10pm yesterday, and found the woman and her daughter with a neighbour.

Firefighters made the scene safe while the woman was taken to hospital by ambulance crews.

Watch manager Ian Crouch said: "A moment’s distraction while cooking can have disastrous consequences.

"Most cooking fires are the result of food catching alight after being left for too long on the hob or under the grill.

"Always stand by your pan and never attempt to tackle a chip pan fire using water.

"If the oil has overheated; don’t attempt to move the pan, turn the heat off if it’s safe to do so, cover it with a lid and leave it to cool down."