A historic building which was engulfed by flames last night had JUST been renovated.

More than 20 firefighters from across the area battled to save the Grade II-listed rooms in Preston Street, also known as the Drill Hall, after a fire broke out at around 9pm.

It comes just weeks after the hall was fully renovated to its original splendour - the first ever Assembly Rooms dates back to 1830.

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Thousands of pounds had been poured into the beloved building, with many Faversham firms donating money or labour.

Last night, smoke could be seen billowing from the halls and the roof was partly destroyed and the kitchen and storage room, both recently built, were badly damaged.

Chairman of the Faversham Building Preservation Trust, which has led the renovations, Bill Croydon said it was thanks to the admirable fire crews and two men ordering a kebab that the main part of the hall was saved.

He said: “The hall was in use until around 8pm. At 9pm, brothers Kelly and Stacey Childs were in the kebab shop next door and noticed that smoke was pouring out the back of the Assembly Rooms.

“They call the fire brigade straight away and we are so grateful to them for that.

“When I heard, I came straight down here and the fire was well developed by that point, with fire crews from Sittingbourne, Whitstable, Canterbury, there were loads of them.

“The fire was all at the back which was so fortunate because it didn’t get into the main hall which we have spent a lot of money on in recent months.”

The blaze was extinguished an hour after crews arrived but they remained at the scene this morning checking for hot spots.

Investigators were taking photographs and assessing the scene this afternoon but the cause of the blaze remains a mystery.

The Yeungs Chinese takeaway has also been affected and it is not clear whether the flames had spread to or from the takeaway.

Rob Lawson, group manager, Kent Fire and Rescue Service, said: "Because of the historic nature of Faversham we made a call for six pumps and the height vehicle, so we have the resources to provide water and breathing apparatus.

"In this instance we found the fog spike was the most suitable tool.

"The roof area to the rear of the building has been damaged and will need replacing - there is substantial burning to the timbers - but we prevented the fire spreading to the main building, and hope it can be brought back into use soon."

Mr Croydon added: “We looked at how we could restore the building back in 2010, and we realised that there were only about 11 or 12 assembly rooms of that vintage left in the country, so really it was quite special.

“When you go into the hall, you can see what a special place it was and it is for Faversham.

“That was the impetus to move forward and renovate it.

“We still had one phase to go - the front of the building - to make it the way it was,

"That is our next step hopefully, but we have to take a backseat with that because we have to repair and replace what was destroyed by the fire."