A busy route that was closed because of a large field fire has reopened, with bus services returning to normal.

Firefighters were called to reports of a blaze in a cornfield off Island Road, in Hersden, near Canterbury.

Large clouds of smoke were seen over the village as fire engines arrived at the scene at 4.34pm.

A spokesperson for the Kent Fire and Rescue Service said: “Nine fire engines and a bulk water carrier were sent to the incident, and crews used hose reel jets, flexi packs and other wildfire equipment to extinguish the flames.

“No casualties were reported, and the cause is not yet known.”

Photographs and video footage show a wall of tall flames cutting across the field. Firefighters finished making the area safe just before 7.30pm.

There were reports of residents having to close their windows as smoke filled the air in the vicinity of the field.

Bus services between St Nicholas and Sturry were temporarily disrupted as the A28, Island Road, was closed in both directions between Claremont Way, Canterbury) and The Glen, Upstreet.

But Stagecoach later announced that its number 8 and 8A buses resumed normal routes.