An elderly woman was rescued from a blaze thanks to quick-thinking onlookers.

The fire broke out in the kitchen of a bungalow in Columbia Avenue, Whitstable, at about 10.10pm last night.

Two men went inside and rescued the woman before firefighters fought the flames.

A fire service spokesman said: "Kent Fire and Rescue Service was called to Columbia Avenue in Whitstable to reports of a bungalow fire.

"Three fire engines attended and upon arrival the female occupant and two male passers-by, who had entered the property to rescue the occupant, were outside suffering with the effects of smoke inhalation."

They were all passed into the care of Secamb paramedics and the woman was taken to hospital as a precaution, the spokesman added.

The fire was extinguished by 11.30pm and the cause so far is unknown.

"Crews wearing breathing apparatus used a main jet and two hose reel jets to tackle the fire which is believed to have started in the kitchen and spread throughout the bungalow," the spokesman added.