Around 60 residents had to be evacuated from their homes after a gas leak.

It is believed that flash floods from earlier ruptured a gas main in a block of flats along the Sandgate Esplanade.

Emergency services raced to the scene to make sure all the residents were safe and placed a cordon on the area until the burst pipe was located.

Kent County Council are at the scene to monitor the damage and people are now being allowed to return back to their homes.

Police Inspector Gregg McNeil said: "The drain lifted in the flood and then there was a smell of gas.

"You can smell it now. We closed down the road to secure the area."

Mark Morgan, 35, is an electrician from Hythe who was working in the Sandgate Hotel at the time of the evacuation.

He said: "I was working in one of the rooms and I was told to leave.

"About 15 people were ordered out and I could smell gas as I walked out."

"I'm worried about my tools as they're still in there."

A Police spokesman said: "The leak was reported at around 1pm on Friday 1 September 2017.

"Brewers Hill has been cordoned off for engineers from SGN to locate and fix the leak.

"Residents are advised to keep their windows closed as a precaution while the work is being carried out."