Fire crews are at a house fire in Great Chart this morning.

Three engines from Kent Fire and Rescue Service were sent to the two-storey house called "Minden" on the A28 Ashford Road in Ashford.

Firefighters have been tackling the blaze since 5.35am and are still at the scene.

The fire has affected both floors of the property and the roof but the cause of the fire is not yet known.

Mike Aldridge, director of AES Precision Engineering, in Chilmington Green Road, saw flames coming out of the building at 5.30am.

He said: “I saw a red glow coming from the house. I didn’t think it was quite right for that time of the morning.

“Then I saw flames, so I called the fire brigade. They said it had already been reported and that they were on their way.

“I didn’t smell anything as the smoke was blowing over the fields.”

One witness who was driving past said the house appeared to be gutted and that drivers were suffering long delays in both directions.

She said: "It was pretty much at a standstill when I came past just after 8am, travelling towards Ashford. The house looked badly damaged and all I could see were the roof beams."

A spokesman from Kent Police said: "Police received a report of an empty house alight on the A28 Ashford Road in Great Chart at 5.49am today (Wednesday 24 September).

"Officers attended to assist with traffic and are working with KFRS to establish the circumstances surrounding the fire."

Stagecoach said all morning bus services to and from Tenterden are delayed.

No-one has been reported injured.