THIS was the scene when a disused public house in Gillingham went up in flames.

Firefighters were called to the Inter Mission bar in Pier Road at around 12pm on Monday. Bystanders gathered as four pumps from Medway, Gillingham and Chatham fire stations tackled the blaze which destroyed the roof of the building.

Smoke was pouring out of the roof of the derelict building and spreading across the road. The black cloud could be seen by residents living across the River Medway.

It is not yet known what caused the fire. The pub has not been used for some time and was badly damaged by fire as it stood empty in 2004.