The heartbroken brother of a grandma who died in a house fire in West Malling says the tragedy has left him feeling “like a ghost.”

Jackie Allen, 65, was killed in the blaze on Saturday night in Spitfire Way, which police are treating as a murder investigation.

Her son-in-law Simon Childs appeared at Medway Magistrates' Court earlier today charged with her murder and the attempted murder of a child.

Her brother, Andrew Lee, 50, with whom she lived in Mosquito Road, said: "I’ve lived here for seven years, she took me in. Jackie had a beautiful heart and was very kind. We were really close. I was her little brother when I was growing up and she looked out for me.

"She’s got such an incredible heart and soul, such a beautiful person. Some people just have that way about them, they’re just very kind, no judgement, just loving."

"Even when she wasn’t doing anything, if she was having a smoke or if she was sat watching TV, she was full of life and would be taking the mick out of what she saw on the screen. I don’t think I’ll ever come to terms with it. How can you? I feel like a ghost. I feel so terribly sad.”

Video of the ongoing investigation at the scene:

Neighbours told of how a number of people rushed to the scene over the weekend, and even smashed the door down in a bid to rescue Jackie and the child, who were trapped inside.

Mr Lee said: "I didn’t know until some kids came around, banging on the door, asking if my sister was in the house that was on fire. I ran around there and saw someone being dragged out of the house. There were lots of people there, saying all sorts of different things. I couldn’t comprehend what was going on, it seemed like forever. You’re standing there and all you can hear is people shouting different things in your ear. It was just confusion, like time was standing still. There was no such thing as time then.

"When I realised it was my sister my body just wanted to give way and fall. People were holding me up and I’m grateful for that. It’s a fact that people lose people but in these circumstances it’s so awful. I looked at her and I just saw this little old woman. I almost didn’t recognise her, because she was always so full of life. She didn’t have her white hair anymore, it was black from the smoke.”