GRAVESEND'S lifeboat was called out yesterday after smoke began issuing from a jetty.

The RNLI were called to the Purfleet deep water terminal near the Dartford Bridge at around 5.20pm on Tuesday.

The crew stayed as a precautionary measure for 40 mins while Essex County Fire and Rescue Service extinguished the small fire.

An RNLI spokesman said: "It was a small fire, probably caused by a discarded cigarette. But because the jetty is made of wood there is always the risk of the situation worsening."