Firefighters came to the aid of an elderly woman in Rainham today after she accidentally left the hob on which led to a fire.

A crew from Medway station was called to the property in Long Catlis Lane, Park Wood around 4pm this afternoon where they extinguished a small fire.

Watch manager Jim Ramsden said: "We gave the lady oxygen and called an ambulance as a precaution, we left her in the care of the paramedics."

They also ventilated the home using positive pressure ventilation - a large fan which blows the smoke out the property.

Mr Ramsden added: "At this time of year, if people could be helping their elderly neighbours out and checking on them, it helps to prevent this type of accident from happening."

A series of recent fires across Medway and Swale over a four week period have prompted firefighters to ask people to ensure safety is top of their list this Christmas.

Between November 5 and December 5, fire crews attended 17 accidental fires in people’s homes in Chatham, Hartlip, Lordswood, Parkwood, Rainham, Rochester, Sheerness, Sittingbourne, St Mary's Island, Strood and Walderslade.

For more information about fire safety in your home visit the Kent Fire and Rescue Service website.