A discarded cigarette could have sparked a corn field blaze which needed three fire crews to bring it under control.

Firefighters were called to Bean Lane in Bean just after 6pm last night where there was an area of land alight measuring about 400 sq m.

The three crews spent about an hour extinguishing the flames.

A spokesman for Kent Fire and Rescue reminded people to be careful when discarding their cigarettes.

He said: “The fire was quite close to a footpath so it is most likely that it was caused by someone carelessly throwing a cigarette away.”