A WOMAN has spoken of the dramatic events that led to the rescue of a mother and her two children from a smoke filled house.

Rebecca Card, 42 of Lysander Road, West Malling, has been praised by fire chiefs for her swift response to a blaze at her neighbour's home last night.

Kent Fire and Rescue Service say her swift actions prompted by the piercing ring of a smoke alarm probably made the difference between life and death.

Mrs Card was watching darts coverage on television at about 11.30pm when she heard the smoke alarm and decided to investigate after it failed to stop.

Before leaving her house she puther ear to the wall and could hear the sound of a child screaming. She immediately dialled 999.

Dressed in a pair of tracksuit bottoms, T-shirt and slippers Mrs Card peered through the kitchen window of her neighbour's home and saw the room full of smoke.

She was joined by another resident and her 13-year son Lewis, wearing just his pyjamas in banging on the doors and windows.

They attempted to force their way into the building after seeing the mother lying unconscious on a sofa in the lounge with her seven-month-old daughter surrounded by thick smoke.

Mrs Card said: "We could hear both children coming and were really panicking. The fire brigade told us not to attempt to force our way in but we had to try.

"We just thought of the kids and the mother lying on the sofa and felt so helpless. The doors were locked and the windows were double-glazed and impossible to break."

Firefighters from Larkfield were on the scene in minutes and rescued the three trapped inside. All were taken to Maidstone Hospital suffering smoke inhalation but were otherwise unharmed.

Larkfield Leading Firefighter Neil Lettington, said: "Without the smoke detector and the quick actions of the neighbour the outcome of this incident may have been very different.

"However we will be visiting the property to relocate the smoke detector to a better position in the house and provide further general fire safety advice."