FIREFIGHTERS today tackled a blaze that badly damaged an oast house in a Kent village.

The fire, which ripped through a fifth of the roof and a fifth of an upstairs bedroom, broke out at Green Hill Lane, Egerton, near Ashford.

Firefighters from the Charing and Lenham retained stations were called out just before 12.20am.

A Kent Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said; “The roof was found to be well alight and firefighters had to chip away tiles from it to get to the seat of the fire.

“A total 20 per cent of the roof was severely damaged and 20 per cent of a first floor bedroom was also damaged.”

Four firefighters wore breathing apparatus to deal with the flames and two hoses were used.

Crews tackled the flames at the 20 by eight metre two-storey building for just over an hour and finally left the scene at 2.35am after salvaging and damping down.

Nobody was reported trapped inside the building when firefighters arrived.