Boy, 10, dies in house fire

Firefighters pulled the boy from the smoke-filled house

A 10-year-old boy has died and his grandmother is fighting for her life after fire swept through the house where they were sleeping on Tuesday night.

Four firefighters pulled Christopher Wellard and Margaret Martin from the blazing building within minutes of receiving a 999 call from neighbours.

If the battery had not been removed from the smoke alarm the family would have woken long before the fire took hold

Kent Fire Brigade

But while the terraced house, in Dartford, Kent, was equipped with a smoke alarm - its battery had been removed, said the fire service.

Firefighters rescued Christopher from the smoke-filled terraced house, in Fulwich Road, Dartford, Kent, just before midnight, but attempts to resuscitate him failed.

The fire had been burning for one and a half hours before firefighters arrived, although a crew was at the scene within three minutes of receiving the 999 call.

It is understood that Christopher was staying at the house because his parents were ill.

Mrs Martin, was resuscitated and taken to Darenth Valley Hospital suffering from serious smoke inhalation.

Her husband Brian is at her hospital bedside.

Community mourns

The blaze started in the downstairs lounge while Christopher and his grandmother were in separate upstairs rooms.

It's very saddening to think what has happened to them

Neighbour Cyril Badner

Senior divisional officer Adam Eckley, of Kent Fire Brigade, described the incident as "a real tragedy".

"If the battery had not been removed from the smoke alarm the family would have woken long before the fire took hold," he said.

An investigation has been launched into the cause of the fire.

Mr Martin was at the nearby Woodman pub when neighbours alerted him to the unfolding tragedy.

Friend of the family Lee Chambers, 30, said he telephoned Mr Martin at the local pub after spotting smoke coming from the house.

Pub owner Carole Day said the Martins were a "lovely family".

"We've got to know them quite well in the last year and the family are so close. They were very happy at Christmas."

Neighbour Cyril Badner said Mr and Mrs Martin, both in their late 50s, had two grandsons.

"And their daughter just had another baby last year," the 78-year-old added.

"It's very saddening to think what has happened to them, especially to the young lad," he said.