FIRE spread through a Dartford house after a homeowner left food cooking on a hob and fell asleep.

Two fire engines were called to an address in Laburnum Avenue at around 10:30pm last night after neighbours heard the smoke alarm sounding from the house.

Firefighters wore specialised breathing apparatus to enter the smoke-filled house and they were able to rescue the woman from inside, who was unhurt.

Crews used a hose reel to extinguish the flames before removing the smoke from the property using a ventilation fan.

Dartford watch manager Lee Able said: “The response by the neighbours on hearing the smoke alarm sounding almost certainly saved this woman’s life.

“This incident highlights the importance of never leaving cooking unattended if you leave the room, turn the heat off.

“Luckily the woman was okay and the property suffered only smoke damage.”