A elderly lady had to be rescued from a house fire this evening.

Kent Fire and Rescue Service was called to the blaze at a property in Loose Road, Maidstone, at 6.40pm.

Crews wearing breathing apparatus entered the home where they rescued the woman.

Firefighters then used hose reel jets to extinguish the flames.

The casualty was handed into the care of South East Coast Ambulance Service.

Neighbours praised the emergency services and said the fire service was there within three minutes of their dialling 999 after hearing the occupant screaming for help.

The fire was contained to the lower floor of the home opposite the junction with Sheals Crescent, although the upper storey suffered smoke damage.

Firefighters stopped the flames spreading to neighbouring homes.

Neighbours said the casualty is in her 80s. She lives in the terraced home with her adult son, who was not at home at the time of the blaze.

Read more: All the latest news from Maidstone