A manhole cover flew out of the ground and a fireball set shrubbery alight in an explosion yesterday evening.

Firefighters were called to a garden in North Road, Cliffe, at about 6.45pm.

A local resident had raised the alarm after hearing a bang and finding plants and hedges alight.

An electrical distribution junction box, which was in the middle of the garden path, had malfunctioned and exploded.

Firefighters from Strood station spent about half-an-hour putting out the flames.

A Kent Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said: "The manhole cover blew off and flames were coming out of the ground.

"The fire destroyed shrubbery in the garden. We used water to put that out and powder to put out the fire in the hole.

"We were on the scene for about half-an-hour."