TWO businesses are counting the cost after fire ripped through their buildings in centre of a Kent seaside town.

Firefighters were damping down hot spots today at the scene of yesterday's blaze in Ramsgate.

Most of Harbour Street was cordoned off after the fire took hold in Cavallino, burning through all three storeys of the restaurant building.

Neighbouring Crusties bakery was also badly damaged by smoke, flames and water.

More than 60 per cent of Cavallino was left ruined. Most of the floors have gone in the building and the roof was badly damaged.

The fire is thought to have started on the first floor shortly after 11.30am on Wednesday, and was not put out until 2.35pm the same day.

At the height of the blaze, thick smoke funnelled down the narrow road and hung over the Royal Harbour while members of the Kent Fire and Rescue Service, using six fire engines, battled to control it. The blaze was fanned by a strong onshore wind.

Two cherry-picker vehicles were used to attack the fire from above the building and an exclusion zone was marked out with police tape at either end of the street.

One person from the Mad Max shop across the road was treated for smoke inhalation.

The owner of the restaurant returned from breakfast to find it alight.