Neighbours have saved the life of a man after they heard his smoke alarm going off.

Fire crews were called to a house in Invicta Road, Dartford, in the early hours of Monday morning by next-door neighbours dialling 999.

Crews had to batter down the door and found a fire had started in the kitchen. After searching the house they found a man asleep upstairs.

A spokesman for Dartford Fire Station said: "It was a small fire, but it had caused the house to become smoke logged and we had to use our fans to clear the house of smoke.

"This shows the value of having a working smoke alarm fitted and having neighbours who were on the ball. They have saved this man’s life with their actions."