Kent Fire and Rescue Service was called to reports of a house fire on Sutton Road, Maidstone, after a washing machine caught alight.

Two fire engines attended, and crews wearing breathing apparatus used hose reel jets to extinguish the flames.

There were no reported injuries. The cause is believed to be accidental, due to an electrical fault.

Following the incident, crews are reminding people to:

• register appliances to stay up to date with any recalls or safety issues
• avoid leaving washing machines on standby for long periods after use
• never run a washing machine overnight or while you’re out of the house