More than 25 firefighters helped to tackle a blaze which broke out in a derelict furniture store in a Kent town centre.

Crews were called to the scene of the fire in Lowfield Street, Dartford at around 6.50pm Tuesday.

The blaze happened in a one-storey building behind a parade of shops. It is thought the premises used to be a furniture store.

A height vehicle from Greenwich together with firefighters wearing breathing apparatus tackled the blaze supported by pumps from Dartford, Thames-side and Kent Fire and Rescue Service’s incident support unit.

Dartford's red watch manager Vince Lewis said: "The main problem was that the fire had spread to the roof of the building.

"There were still items of furniture in the premises which had caught alight and there was the threat of it spreading to other derelict buildings nearby."

The blaze was extinguished and firefighters left the scene at around 9pm. The cause is being investigated.

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