An elderly woman had a lucky escape in Dover last night when food she was cooking in her kitchen overheated.

The 88-year-old was preparing a meal at her home in Percival Terrace but left the cooker unattended while she went upstairs.

The food burnt, setting off the smoke alarm, and the cooking oil reached dangerously high temperatures.

The woman pressed a care line alarm which alerted the alarm system operator who called the fire service.

The spokesman at Dover fire station said the kitchen was full of smoke when they arrived, and the oil was within seconds of bursting into flames, potentially causing a serious fire.

The pensioner was distressed, but otherwise unhurt.

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