A large fire swept through a derelict site once earmarked for a huge Tesco development.

in Dartford has destroyed the roof of four shops.

The blaze in Lowfield Street, Dartford, destroyed the roof of four shops has caused heavy smoke in the area.

The site was once earmarked for a major Tesco development but plans fell through when the supermarket sold off the land.

Residents have been warned to close their windows and doors.

Fire crews were called to the incident in the town centre this morning at 5.26am.

They are having to tackle the fire from outside as the building is structurally unsound.

The road has been closed in both directions and is causing congestion between Phoenix Place and Vauxhall Place.

Crews are using hose reel jets, fogspike and cold cut firefighter system to tackle the blaze which create a hole in the building and spray mist inside the building to bring the temperature of the fire down.

Firefighters are working closely with Kent Police but the cause of the fire is still unknown.

Adrian Sels, 53, who is unemployed and lives in nearby Phoenix Place, said: "I heard sirens at about 5.30am this morning I came downstairs to see my friend who owns a carpet shop across the road and I saw all the smoke it was thick and pure black smoke.

"The fireman stopped me from walking down the road and told me it was a carpet shop that was on fire so I panicked thinking it was my friends.

"Luckily it wasn’t, it was the old shop that had been shut down for years.

"I was just so shocked I couldn’t believe it but then what do you expect when it has taken so long to put anything in there the whole road was just empty no shops no nothing along there.

"The smoke keeps picking up and when it does all you can smell is burning rubber and then the firefighters have to try and get it all under control again.

"I mean you can’t fault the crews that have done a really good job all day.

"They told me that the facia on the roof is so badly damaged they are going to have to knock it all down before they send any of the crew inside because it is so unsafe.

"I’m surprised that none of the ash has landed on all the dry grass and caused another fire."

Fairfield Leisure has posted on its Facebook page telling customers they can still access the centre from the Princes Road end.

It reads: "If you are heading down to us today please be aware Lowfield Street is currently closed due to a fire in the buildings next to the centre.

"You are still able to access the centre from the Princes Road end. The information we have just received from the emergency services on scene is that it will be closed for most of the day. If we receive any further updates we will keep you informed."

Dan Range, 35, who lives in Temple Hill said he was not surprised the fire broke out.

He added: "It’s not a surprise the shops have been empty for years it was only a matter of time until something like this happened.

"It is annoying I’m trying to take my daughter swimming and the road is all shut off for us to get down.

"All we can hope now is that they will speed up the development of putting something else in there.

"I think there are plans for flats and bars to go in so that would be good if that can start happening now. It could have been anything that have started it with nobody watching the building."

Fire crews finally extinguished the blaze at 7.30pm, although some firefighters remain at the scene for final checks.