Residents living in a cul-de-sac vacated their homes as a field fire spread towards their properties.

Firefighters in two engines responded to the blaze in The Avenue in Hersden, Canterbury, at 9pm last night.

People living in nearby Blackthorn Road left their homes, including one man with his dog, as the flames soared into the sky and within metres of their garden fences.

Nicky Ummatt, 39, her husband and eight-year-old son were among them.

She told KentOnline: "The fire looked very big and was moving in a long line.

"You could see the flames rising above fence level.

"There was quite a breeze and it was moving towards garden fences.

"It was quite breezy, the fire was close to garden fences."

"It didn't penetrate any fences but it was extremely close.

"The farmer was ploughing to try to isolate the fire and the fire brigade were very good.

"But it was the noise more than anything. It was really loud and crackly."

Crews left the scene at 10.11pm. The cause of the fire remains a mystery.

A fire service spokesman said: "Two fire engines attended and crews used hose reel jets and beaters to extinguish the fire.

"There were no reported injuries and the cause is not known."

Police have been approached for a comment.

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