Shocking footage shows the moment the front of a Co-op store was almost engulfed in flames while shoppers were still inside.

A hero takeaway owner rushed towards the fire in Cheriton High Street yesterday evening armed with an extinguisher as passersby panicked.

The video captured by an eyewitness shows flames across the front of the store, stretching from the far side of the building to the main entrance.

Then, the owner of the nearby Indian takeaway Clay Oven can be seen rushing to the blaze with his fire extinguisher.

Mafabbir Ali quickly worked to douse the flames as people in the street looked on.

Speaking to KentOnline, the 54-year-old said: “I was working in my shop and I was out the back when I heard my wife and a customer shouting ‘fire, fire’.

“I thought it was in my kitchen so I jumped up and ran in but there was nothing there.

“I saw the fire was blazing at Co-op so I grabbed the fire extinguisher and went out there.”

Footage captured at the scene shows the moment Mr Ali ran over with his fire extinguisher and immediately started tackling the flames.

Thanks to his fast response, the blaze was put out in a matter of seconds.

“I didn’t see who did it but they put petrol on first along the front,” he added.

“It was blazing quite badly and it was going to hit the entrance but I extinguished the whole lot.

“People were panicking around it and I was too.

“There were customers and the manager in the store.”

A police spokesman confirmed officers were called at about 6.45pm yesterday to a report a man had started a fire at the Co-op in Cheriton High Street.

“The fire was quickly extinguished by a member of the public and no injuries were reported,” he said.

“Inquiries into the incident are ongoing and there have been no arrests.”