A WOMAN died in a house fire on Tuesday afternoon.

Maidstone firefighters were called at around 2.50pm, and three pumps were still at the scene in Blatchford Close, East Malling, more than an hour later.

The ground floor was completely ablaze and the first floor was seriously damaged by smoke.

Maidstone and Malling Police also attended the incident at the request of Kent Fire and Rescue Service, but at this stage the fire is not considered suspicious.

The cause of the woman’s death has not yet been confirmed.