Strood town centre was closed this afternoon following a fire above a shoe shop.

Crews were called to Shu-Time in the High Street shortly after 1pm where they found a well established fire on the first floor. The blaze is thought to have started in a store room.

The road was closed while crews used breathing apparatus to enter the top floor of the shop. They had to smash a window to gain entry into the building.

Smoke could be seen billowing from windows and at the height of the fire, six appliances were on the scene along with a height vehicle ladder and an incident support unit.

Stacey Saward, 22, was in the town centre when the fire broke out. She said: "I was in the High Street when I saw smoke pouring out of one of the upstairs windows.

"I think it was the owner who called 999 and got everyone out of the shop. The fire engines were here within seconds."

Gary Stanford, from Kent Fire and Rescue Service, said it is not known how the fire started at this stage.

Motorists were urged to avoid the area and find alternative routes.