Dozens of Women’s Institute members were evacuated from a village hall after fire broke out in a boiler.

More than 100 members of the West Kent Federation of Women’s Institutes were enjoying a harp recital this afternoon when they noticed smoke coming from the back of Ryarsh village hall and then saw flames.

The federation’s chairman of performing arts, Chris Klempau, leapt up to tackle the blaze with a fire extinguisher while the emergency services were alerted.

Firefighters from Larkfield helped evacuate the women from the hall, including harpist Margaret Watson, who was told to leave her instrument behind.

The women were allowed back in after 20 minutes. No-one was injured.

A bird’s nest by the boiler is believed to have sparked the blaze.

See tomorrow's Malling edition of the Kent Messenger for the full story