A huge haystack fire burnt for five days after 6,000 tons of bales went up in flames on Saturday.

Fire crews were called to a field off Church Road, Cobham, near Gravesend, to tackle the blaze at around 7.45pm.

Four engines were deployed, with firefighters in breathing kits using high-pressure hoses to douse the flames.

With smoke pouring from the blackened bales, residents in Istead Rise and the surrounding area were warned to close their windows.

That advice continued to be reinforced for several days.

Crews continued at the site to dampen out any hotspots as the fire slowly burnt itself out.

An update was issued at 2.15pm Tuesday in which a spokesperson said: “Fire crews continue to keep an eye on the haystack, which is reducing in size steadily as it burns off.

“Due to strong winds, it is likely that nearby properties will still experience smoke and ash fall, so the advice to keep windows and doors closed remains in place.”

By Wednesday evening, crews said firefighting operations had concluded.

Duty of care for the site was passed back to the landowner.

Fire crews will carry out drive-by checks every six hours to ensure the managed burn-off continues as planned.

People in the local area are no longer advised to keep doors and windows closed, however there is a chance of further smoke and ash fall until the haystack is completely burned out.