ASHFORD station was closed last night after a compartment on a diesel train caught alight.

Ten fire crews raced to the International station at about 6.15pm after the driver of the 18.11 train to Hastings alerted station staff to the smoke pouring from the train.

Passengers were evacuated and the whole station was cleared, including the international Eurostar side of the terminal.

Platforms one and two, where the diesel train was standing, were closed until 7.40pm, when sub officer Chris Cook, from Charing, gave the all-clear.

Trains had already re-started running from other platforms with slight delays. Mr Cook said: “Due to the smoke and the use of the driver’s fire extinguisher, which has dry powder that gets in the air, the public were kept out and the subway was closed.”

He added: “It [the fire] was just in an awkward place and needed a bit of time spent cutting away to establish where the fire was.”

The diesel train was shunted up the track to Chart Leacon at about 7.30pm by the next service to arrive on the Hastings line.

It was due to be examined for the cause of the fire today.