FIREFIGHTERS battled for four hours to put out a fire on a 12ft houseboat.

Crews had been called out just after 10am, on Friday, after flames had ripped through the vessel moored at Brambletree Wharf, Borstal, on the River Medway.

A Strood Fire Station spokesman said: "The fire was well alight when we got there. Thankfully, nobody was inside but it was a difficult fire to put out. The boat was on mud and the tide was coming in so we had to fight the fire from the bank."

The steel vessel and its contents had been totally destroyed and four fire vehicles were needed. These were three pumps from Strood, Medway and Chatham and a water safety unit from Larkfield, carrying equipment for marine fires such as life jackets and throw lines.

The owner was at the scene and was said to be unhurt but distraught. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.