A town centre gym was evacuated after a fire broke out next to the building.

Fire crews were called to The Gym in New Street, Ashford, following reports of a blaze in a loading bay.

The smoke from the burning material was drawn into the building by the air conditioning, triggering the fire alarm.

Firefighters were called just after 6.30pm yesterday.

The gym - which is open 24 hours - closed overnight while crews tackled the blaze and cleared smoke from the premises, but it reopened at 6am this morning.

Steve Warner, The Gym's regional manager said: "The rubbish caught fire in the loading bay and the air con outside sucked it into the building.

"The team started to put it out with four fire extinguishers until the fire crew arrived.

"The fire crew was awesome, they even stayed overnight to air the building out."

A spokesman from the fire service said: "We were called to New Street in Ashford at 6.36pm yesterday.

"Two fire engines attended to find bins alight and crews extinguished the fire and used a high pressure fan to clear the building of smoke."