A FIREFIGHTER was taken to hospital suffering with heat exhaustion while tackling a blaze in a top floor store room at a pub in Canterbury.

More than 150 customers were cleared from the Thomas Ingoldsby in Burgate when an alarm was activated shortly before 9.30pm on Monday.

Six fire crews were called to the scene as flames and thick smoke engulfed the room and spread to the roof void.

The firefighter was later released from hospital after a check-up. He was one of a team wearing breathing apparatus who tackled the seat of the outbreak on the top floor.

Acting sub-officer Shawn Hoare said the fire had started in a room which ran the length of the building. It was being used for storing pub property, including furniture.

He said: "The breathing apparatus team did a good job in the intense heat. When we pulled them out, one was suffering with heat exhaustion and taken to hospital. But he's okay now.

"The fire spread into the roof void and also did some damage to the roof. We got it under control in about 90 minutes and were able to leave the scene by 1am."

The cause of the blaze is being investigated and structural engineers have been called in to assess the damage. The pub is expected to be closed for several weeks.