The Old Alma guesthouse in Chilham damaged in fire

THE owners of a bed and breakfast in Chilham have spoken of the terrifying moment a blaze ripped through their kitchen on Sunday.

Guests were evacuated after a faulty tumble dryer burst into flames at The Old Alma guest house in Canterbury Road, which then spread through the kitchen, leaving a trail of destruction.

The Old Alma guesthouse owners Jenny and Paul Leahy assess the damage
The blaze was prevented from spreading to other rooms by a fire door
The fire is believed to have been caused by a fault in a tumble dryer#

The owners tried to tackle the flames with a fire extinguisher, but when the heat became too intense they dialled 999.

Firefighters needed breathing apparatus to enter the house and bring the blaze under control.

Speaking after the incident, Paul Leahy, 77, who runs the business with his wife Jenny, 65, said: "I had gone back to bed because I had a very restless night, and I woke up to absolute chaos. It was terrifying.

"At first, the tumble dryer started smoking. Then the flames came and it was impossible to put it out.

"It wasn't a nice experience – it was devastating, to be quite honest."

The couple and their three guests fled the building, and were taken in by Jenny's sister Paula Easthope, who runs the nearby Bagham Guesthouse.

Paul continued: "We're lucky we have very good friends across the road, who took us in.

"We're still assessing the damage. Everybody's fine, but it's just inconvenient.

"There's a lot of smoke damage and the gas and electricity has gone. Our bank cards and car keys were also destroyed. We're just lucky no one was hurt."

Paula said: "We were actually closed for refurbishment, so we were lucky we were able to accommodate them.

"It's a real mess over there. It'll take weeks to sort out. But if you can't help your own sister, who can you help?"

The blaze has prompted firefighters to urge homeowners to ensure their electrical appliances are safe.

Kent Fire and Rescue Service's head of community safety, Stuart Skilton, said: "Tumble dryers overheat easily due to overloading, poor ventilation or a build-up of flammable lint and fluff in filters.

"It's really important to make sure filters are emptied after each use, that appliances are well ventilated and that you only dry appropriate and correctly-sized items, as described in the manufacturer's instructions."