Firefighters responded after a chimney caught fire at a house in Sheppey.

Crews were called to Seaside Avenue in Minster at around 6.10pm.

They carried out a thermal inspection, removed the flue system and made it safe, and were at the property for approximately an hour.

It comes after the fire service issued a warning following at least seven chimney fires across Kent within the last week.

Crew manager Dan Wooller said: “As the cold weather continues, many residents are using open fires and wood burning stoves to heat their homes.

“Please make sure you get your chimney regularly swept, inspected and well maintained by a professional chimney sweep.

“This will help avoid the risk of a fire breaking out, either due to a build-up of soot or ash in the chimney, heat spread from damaged chimney breasts or poorly fitted wood burning stoves.

“I’d also recommend that residents sign up to our clean sweep alert, to receive a free reminder to have your chimney swept.”

There have been three chimney fires in Faversham, and others in Biddenden, Elham, Ashford and Canterbury.

For more safety advice visit www.kent.fire-uk.org/news/campaigns/clean-sweep-alert or call 0800 923 7000 or email home@kent.fire-uk.org