An explosion has ripped through a house in Dover, blowing out windows and lifting tiles off the roof.

Neighbours living near the property in Leyburne Road raised the alarm after hearing the tremendous bang and firefighters wore breathing apparatus to fight the blaze.

A spokesman for Dover Fire Station said: “When we arrived there was smoke and flames pouring out of what was the kitchen window and one of the bedrooms windows.

“The occupier of the home came back while we were at the scene and he was absolutely shocked to see what had happened. It was a fierce fire and some rooms were totally destroyed.”

Three fire engines were called, two from Dover and one from Folkestone.

It is believed the blaze could have started in the kitchen after a freezer motor overheated.

Ian Taylor, of Castlemount Road, Dover, was one of the people who dialled 999.

He said: “I was sitting in the lounge when I heard a slightly muffled bang. I thought at first that someone had hit my car, but when I looked out I saw flames pouring from the back bedroom in the house opposite. Windows and part of the wall had blown out.”