New Year’s Eve celebrations at a Medway nightclub have already gone with a bang.

Firefighters were called to Amadeus in Medway Valley Park, Strood, at about 1pm today (Wednesday) after a firework caught alight.

Staff had been testing a pyrotechnics display ahead of tonight’s festivities.

A shower of sparks from one of the fireworks, which was attached to a light rigging, set light to materials in the ceiling.

Quick-thinking staff were able to extinguish the flames before fire crews arrived.

A spokesman for Kent Fire and Rescue said: “This particular firework was in a bad position. The shower had set fire to dust and fluff but the staff did a great job of putting out the flames with half a dozen hand-held fire extinguishers.

“All we had to do was use our thermal camera to ensure everything was out.”

Owner of the nightclub, Aaron Stone, said the staff had taken advice from Kent Fire and Rescue and the venue will be open as usual tonight.