A cable which overheated is thought to be the cause of a basement fire in a two-storey building in Gillingham.

Firefighters from Medway fire station were called out to the property, which contained three flats, at about 6.15pm last night and used breathing apparatus to enter the building.

The crew found the fire in the cellar but flames had spread to a first floor flat at the site in Cavendish Avenue and spent about 45 minutes fighting the flames.

A spokesman for Kent Fire and Rescue Service, said: “Once extinguished, crews spent time cutting away and damping down to ensure there were no remaining hot spots.”

It is understood no one was injured during the incident.