Alert as fire service attends launderette fire

Kent Fire and Rescue Service sent 10 fire engines, one height vehicle and one water carrier to the scene

Residents of a Kent town living near an industrial fire which broke out in the early hours of Tuesday are being advised to keep their doors and windows closed.

Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) sent 10 fire engines to an industrial fire in Northwood Road, Ramsgate.

Nick Scott, KFRS area manager for operational response, told BBC Radio Kent the "whole building was alight" when crews arrived and the "challenge was to contain it".

He said KFRS received numerous reports of flames and smoke in the area at around 04:30 BST.

On arrival, crews found a large industrial unit believed to be a launderette "well alight".

Mr Scott added: "It was quite a large fire. The challenge was to contain it and prevent the spread to further buildings, to protect the community and the surrounding property."

The KFRS response has begun scaling down, and there are now two fire engines at the scene.

At 20:00, the service said crews had made "good progress" on the fire and were continuing to damp down hotspots.

No injuries have been reported.

The advice remains for residents to keep windows and doors closed.

Mr Scott said there was a "considerable amount" of structural damage to the building but fire crews would leave the scene with the building "as safe as it can be".