MOBILE homes being used to accommodate workers digging a water pipe across the Isle of Thanet were in danger when a corn went up in flames.

The blaze, at Ebbsfleet Lane railway crossing, near Cliffsend, began in a field of standing corn next to the workmen’s camp.

Fire crews from Ramsgate, Westwood and Sandwich were called to the incident at about 7.15pm on Monday. The fire quickly took hold in a stiff, westerly wind.

Corn fires can sometimes spread faster than a man can run and smoke quickly blanketed the workmen’s living area as the blaze approached.

However, after an hour of standing downwind amid the acrid smoke and pouring six jets of water on the corn, fire crews extinguished the blaze and the living quarters were saved.

The field was tinder dry. The blaze is being treated as accidental. A fire break is being arranged to protect the site in future.