FIREFIGHTERS stopped flames spreading to a 60-acre field of dry standing corn in the nick of time.

Margate fire and rescue services fought against the clock to reach the field at Shallows Road off St Peter’s Road in St Peter’s, near Broadstairs, on Monday evening.

A spokesman said: "We had to get across a narrow bridge along a rickety farm track to reach the field. The fire was in a pile of dumped rubbish in grass next to the cornfield.

"We got to it with inches to spare - if the flames had caught the corn alight, it would have destroyed the field."