A major blaze has left a family home "absolutely gutted".

Fire crews tackled flames which ripped through the first floor of the property in Clarence Road, Chatham.

The damage to the house can be seen from the street

The incident, which happened yesterday, threatened to spread to neighbouring properties according to the firefighters.

Next-door neighbour Jane Probert said: "Smoke was bellowing out. It was absolutely horrific.

"We was just thinking what you have worked for your working life go up in smoke.

"There were flames shooting out."

Five fire engines and a height vehicle attended the blaze at around 3.50pm, with the incident being declared safe shortly after 6.30pm.

Crews wearing breathing apparatus tackled the fire using main jets and water from a hydrant.

A volunteer response team also went to the scene to provide support to residents.

Jane and her partner were evacuated from their property along with other residents while fire crews dealt with the flames and stopped them spreading to other houses.

The 54-year-old continued: "We were lucky to get out, it could have been a lot worse. The fire brigade were fantastic when they got here."

She said all her belongings in the loft have gone but was lucky there is a brick wall separating the two houses.

Due to the terrace houses, the lofts are all connected so there is smoke damage across around six houses another resident, Clare Prescott, said.

The 46-year-old had just come home from work just before the fire service arrived.

She said: "All I saw was smoke. Apparently there were flames round the back."

On the adjoining Albany Road, police cordoned off a section of broken fencing.

Neighbour Andrew Taylor said: "It all happened so quickly. Someone came knocking on my door saying smoke was coming out my window but it was not, it was next door.

"The house is completely gutted."

The 58-year-old said he has been left with no water as his plumbing is connected to the house and the pipes have burst as well as some smoke damage.

He added that the family have been re-located.

Fire services said there have been no reported injuries and the cause of the fire is not yet known.