Firefighters remain at the scene of a huge fire in Ashford this morning - more than 18 hours after it first started.

A warehouse and car have been destroyed in the blaze on Cobbs Wood Industrial Estate, with neighbouring buildings also being partly damaged.

Yesterday, the town was left under a cover of dark smog as a huge smoke flume rose from the estate, after the fire started at 3.15pm in a tyre store .

That smoke could be seen from Tenterden and Romney Marsh.

At its height, 15 fire engines, two height vehicles and a bulk water carrier crews were on site to tackle the flames.

Nearby residents reported their clothes being covered in black, oily spots due to the smoke and falling ash.

Some also said their children were covered in a similar solution after playing on slides in their gardens.

Martin Darby, who lives in Ashford, said the "whole sky was black", adding: "People thought it was going to rain and I said no, it's smoke."

Bus services were disrupted and Ashford Borough Council also warned the fire might impact bin collections throughout the town, after its Biffa site at Cobbs Wood was evacuated.

This morning, Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) say the blaze is "under control" but warn they are expected to remain at the scene for some time.

They are also advising residents nearby to still keep their windows closed as a precaution, in line with advice given last night.

This came following fears asbestos could be involved.

The operation has now been scaled down with five fire engines, a bulk water carrier and a height vehicle in attendance, with crews turning over and damping down hot spots.

And while the smoke plume has reduced significantly, a small amount of smoke is still coming from the site.

KFRS says this could change throughout the day however.

The service says an investigation will now begin to establish the cause of the massive fire which has so far destroyed a single-storey warehouse and a car, and other nearby warehouses and vehicles have been partially destroyed by fire or damaged by heat.

Yesterday, a man with burns and smoke inhalation was also taken to hospital.

A spokesman for KFRS said today: "KFRS would like to thank nearby businesses disrupted by the fire for their cooperation while crews work to bring the incident to a close and make the scene safe."

The fire at Cobbs Wood is the fourth major fire in Kent in the last few days.

On Monday, a blaze broke out at a wildlife park near Canterbury . The fire at Wildwood, which was started by a spark from a log burner , caused huge damage to the park.

A Crayford warehouse was devastated by a fire on Monday too .

Then on Tuesday smoke was seen hanging over a fire at Chatham Football Club .

Read more: All the latest news from Ashford