Fire crews were forced to break down a door today after ashes emptied into a bin sparked a blaze.

Folkestone firefighters were called to Bradford Court Sheltered Housing, in Foord Road, at 12.27pm after an automatic fire alarm went off.

When they arrived they discovered the alarm was sounding from a home which had filled with smoke.

As the resident was not in, they had to break the door down to enter the property.

An investigation revealed the small fire had started in a bin of which the contents of an ashtray had been emptied into.

They opened windows to vent the property.

"If the alarm hadn't gone off it could have been a lot worse. The resident was lucky." - Watch manger Parker

Watch manager Giles Parker said: "The resident had gone out to bingo and emptied the ashtray into the bin.

"It smouldered and filled the room with smoke.

"If the alarm hadn't gone off it could have been a lot worse. The resident was lucky."

He offered the following advice: "If you do smoke in your home, make sure you dampen the ashes down before emptying the ashtray. Make sure they are 100% out."

Crews were at the scene for around 45 minutes.

In another incident today, crews from Folkestone were called to Bridge Street to reports a two seater sofa had been set alight.

Vandals burnt the settee behind the former Two Bells pub, which has now closed.

Crews arrived at the scene at 2.15pm and spent 15 minutes putting the fire out.