A man had to be woken by firefighters after smoke filled his home.

Two pumps from Medway were called to the property in Maidstone Road, Chatham, just before 9pm yesterday after neighbours reported smelling smoke.

Crews had to break the door down and helped the man, thought to be in his 50s, out of the house before giving him oxygen.

The smoke was caused by a saucepan being left on the stove.

The man refused an ambulance and, after the smoke was cleared from the house with a positive pressure ventilation system, returned to his home.

A fire service spokesman said the man did not have a smoke alarm, and added: "We would urge all members of the public to fit a smoke alarm to avoid situations such as this, an incident which could have been nasty."

The house suffered no fire damage and crews returned after about 45 minutes.