A mother and daughter were forced to flee their home after a tumble dryer caught fire.

Chrissy House was sitting in the front room with Molly, 14, when she smelt smoke moments before the fire alarm went off.

After going to investigate the mum of three found flames lapping out of the open tumble dryer door. A pile of clothes were inside.

The 36 year old tried to tackle the fire before calling 999 and getting herself and Molly out of the property in Elm Grove, Murston.

She said: "I pulled the clothes out because they were on fire and chucked water on them then I tried to get the tumble dryer out the back door.

"I got a burn on the top of my left foot because part of the dryer came off, then I burnt my fingers trying to pull it off my foot.

"In the end I left it, closed the kitchen door and called the fire brigade."

One fire engine from Sittingbourne and another from Faversham were called to the incident at 10.15am on Wednesday.

Crews went to the rear of the property where they used a hose reel to tackle the blaze.

Once the fire was out they moved the appliance in to the back garden before leaving the scene 45 minutes later.

Sittingbourne watch manager Mat Barney said: "Around 80% of the kitchen was damaged. Shutting the door on the way out stopped the fire from spreading further so the lady needs to be commended for doing that.

"The exact cause of the fire isn't known."

Molly, who was off school sick, was given oxygen at the scene by paramedics before being taken to Medway Maritime Hospital, Gillingham, to be checked over. She was released the same day.

Ms House said: "I would just like to thank the firefighters and the ambulance for looking after me and my daughter as well as my neighbours Nicky and Mel.

"Had the fire brigade not arrived so quickly it could have been a lot worse."