More than 1,500 square metres of corn has been destroyed in a huge fire near Canterbury.

Kent Fire and Rescue Service was called to a large fire in a cornfield on Cockering Road, Chartham.

Crews tried to contain the spread of the blaze using hose reel jets, flexi-packs and beaters but the whole crop was destroyed.

The fire comes as detectives investigate a suspected arson attack at a rubbish tip in the same road.

Police say two further fires in Cockering Road are not being linked at this stage.

Three crews were needed to tackle the blaze as more than 50 square metres of waste in Cockering Road, Chartham, went up in flames on July 20.

Four days earlier, a large barn containing 150 tonnes of baled straw was destroyed on the road, with firefighters battling the blaze for more than 14 hours. Then on Sunday night, two derelict mobile homes were gutted by fire, again on Cockering Road.

Firefighters needed oxygen tanks and thermal imaging cameras to tackle the flames.

Police spokesman Scarlet Jones said: “We are investigating a report of arson in Cockering Road, which took place between noon and 3.22pm on July 20.

"We are also aware of two other fires nearby. At this stage there is nothing to suggest suspicious ignition for these two fires.”