A quick thinking taxi driver has been praised by firefighters for being brave and helpful when a blaze broke out in a house in Deal.

Mark Turner was in his vehicle at the Blenheim Road junction with Gilford Road when he saw smoke coming from an end of terrace property.

Deal Fire Station watch manager Paul Vanstone said: "He saw a woman running back inside the house.

"So he parked the taxi, ran to lead her to safety before going back to shut the door to the kitchen, where the fire had broken out.

"He also closed the back door to bottle up the blaze. He was brave, without being reckless."

The fire at the terraced house in Gilford Road started in the kitchen, possibly when a chip pan caught alight. Heat melted waterpipe joints causing flooding and the home was blackened by smoke.

Mr Turner, of Courtenay Road, Deal, was driving for Castle AI Taxis, when he saw the smoke coming out of the property.

He said: "So I parked up on the side of the road and saw the lady coming out of the house to knock on a neighbour’s door.

"She was disappearing back into her house, so I followed her in and told her she ought to get out.

"With her outside I ran back in, kicked the back door shut and then closed the kitchen door. The flames were quite intense.

"She hadn’t raised the alarm, so I called 999 on my mobile and the fire engine arrived a few minutes later."

Mr Turner, 46, a self-employed taxi driver, said he stayed with the woman and left the scene when her friend arrived.

"Then I went back to work. I wanted to help the lady and she was okay, which was the main thing. The house can be redone."