by Jo Sword

Around 36 firefighters were needed to tackle a large tyre fire that broke out in a village near Canterbury.

The blaze started just after 5pm Friday in Grove Road, Preston.

Fire crews had to deal with explosions within the stack as well as intense smoke, according to a spokesman for Kent Fire and Rescue.

Throughout the evening firefighters were liaising with the Environment Agency.

The flames under control by 7.30pm Friday but on Saturday morning there were two crews still on site dampening down.

They had left the scene by 9am.