FIREFIGHTERS had to tackle a blaze at a cottage in Southfleet in the early hours of this morning.

A crew from Thames-side station in Coldharbour Road, Northfleet, was called to Station Road in Southfleet at around 1am, after the woman living there returned home to find the hallway ablaze.

She was able to get her two dogs out of the cottage via the conservatory before the firefighters arrived and to put out the flames.

Watch manager Peter Coughlan says he suspects the fire was caused by an electrical fault with a fuse box.

He said there was heavy smoke throughout the cottage.