A fire discovered inside a disused tunnel is believed to have been started deliberately.

Crews were called to reports of a blaze off Maclure Road in Northfleet.

Two fire engines were sent to the scene at around 6.45pm last Saturday (June 15).

Pictures showed smoke coming from a patch of land near the residential area and a fire engine stationed on Fountain Walk.

Crews wearing breathing apparatus discovered a quantity of rubbish on fire.

Hose reel jets were used to tackle the flames. It was extinguished just over 45 minutes later.

No injuries were reported and the cause of the fire is believed to be deliberate.

The structure – including a cliff top entrance, platform, tunnel and stairs – are all Grade-II listed.

It is part of a network of disused chalk quarry tunnels that were constructed by telegraph cable company WT Henley in 1939.

The passages were used as an air raid shelter to shield from German bombing during the Second World War.