FIREFIGHTERS battled for four hours to put out a ferocious blaze which swept through the roof of a house (Christina Quistgaard writes).

Four crews were called to the fire in the detached house at Wainscott, near Strood, just before 9.30pm last night. Flames were shooting through the roof and at first it was unclear if anyone was in the property.

Sub-officer Martin Simmons said: “Flames were coming through the roof and we couldn’t establish if anyone was in there.” Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus searched the house in Hollywood Lane but found no one inside.

The owners of the house are believed to be away. Next-door neighbour George Miller said: “We heard a couple of bangs and my wife said she heard something falling. The fire brigade arrived and we stood outside to make sure we were safe.”

Mr Miller said he did not know the owners well but added: “They are a big family with may be four children and the man is very friendly. They have got another house and they haven’t been here for a week."

He added: “It must be horrible to walk back and see this. It's going to break their hearts.”

Firefighters say the cause of the fire is still being investigated but arson has been ruled out.