Fire at farm building in Doddington. Picture: Harry Mustoe-Playfair

More than 25 firefighters have been tackling a blaze at a farm near Sittingbourne overnight.

They were called to the farm shed, where oil and other chemicals are thought to be stored, in Doddington.

Black smoke could be seen for miles as the fire took hold of the storage shed at Down Court Farm at 5.30pm.

Farm owner Kevin Attwood, 53, said his wife, Lynda, who was at home in the nearby farmhouse, raised the alarm.

"She noticed some smoke and called the fire brigade. By the time I got there the whole building was ablaze."

Firefighters, who were there for more than four hours, acted quickly to stop the flames spreading.

"We've got some conversion work being done on outbuildings relatively close, certainly too close for comfort," said Mr Attwood. "Close enough to be a worry."

Four firefighters wearing oxygen masks tackled the blaze at close quarters while colleagues doused the flames.

At the height of the fire, roads were shut and people were advised to avoid the area, to make it easier for the emergency services to get there.

Graham Cuthbert, of Palace Farm, Doddington, said he warned campers on his campsite to move out of the field if smoke started to drift over.

"It was think black smoke,” he said. "You could hear the fire crackling and popping."

Mr Attwood said the building, which was destroyed, was "relatively elderly" and had been used to store items such as sprayers, bird scarers and some lubricants.

Insurance assessors were due to survey the damage before the site is cleared.