Firefighters had to march up a steep hill to put out a major grass fire.

Long, dried grass had caught light at Dover Hill, Folkestone, close to the Valiant Sailor pub.

Eight firemen walked the 400 to 500 metres and put out the flames with beaters and flexipacks, portable hoses and water containers.

A Folkestone Fire Station spokesman said: “It was difficult to gain access to the fire.

"We couldn’t get near it with our fire engines and even our usual hoses couldn’t get to the flames.
“So we left our engines in the pub car park and went on foot.”

Fire crews from the Dover and Folkestone stations were called just after 4pm today and were at the scene for an hour.

The blaze burned about an acre of grass and its cause is being investigated.