Fire destroys home and kills pets

A fire destroyed a family's home and killed two of their pets in Kent late on Friday night.

A dog and a cat died in the fire in Walderslade, near Chatham, but the family who lived in the house managed to get out alive.

One man was taken to Medway Maritime Hospital and kept in overnight after breathing in smoke.

Firefighters said he had been woken by a smoke alarm after the fire started in Speedwell Avenue at about 2330 GMT.

Fire service Sub Officer Stuart Nunn said: "It was a very severe fire and the guy was very lucky to get out.

"He did say that the smoke alarm roused him and he managed to get out OK so I suppose the fire safety message is that smoke alarms do save lives."