More than 50 firefighters spent around five hours tackling a major grass fire in Swanscombe yesterday evening.

A spokesman for Kent Fire and Rescue Service said 12 fire engines and two support units were called to the blaze, which broke out near Manor Way shortly after 5pm.

Fire crews used hose reels, jets and beaters to extinguish the blaze. They had returned to their stations by 10.30pm.

Around 60 hectares of grassland is said to have been affected - roughly the size of 55 football pitches.

The cause of the blaze is not yet known.