A SMOKE alarm alerted nine people when fire broke out in a house in Kent. And the drama came as Kent Fire and Rescue Service is running a smoke alarm campaign.

When a fire crew arrived at Wickham Street, Rochester, shortly after 4pm yesterday they found a fire in a smoke-filled bedroom.

The nine residents were waiting in the street.

A fire service spokesman said: "The alarm certainly did the job and got them all out without being hurt."

According to a Fire Kills survey, nine out of 10 Kent households have a smoke alarm - but nine out of 10 don't test them often enough.

Statistics show that on average, there are more than 800 accidental house fires in Kent each year, injuring 111 and killing seven people.

Kent Fire and Rescue Service Assistant Director Steve Griffiths said: "The message is simple – smoke alarms save lives, but only if they work!"