Poker equipment worth hundreds of thousands of pounds has been destroyed following a fire on an industrial estate in Paddock Wood.

Crews in six fire engines were called to the scene of the blaze, which broke out at Alpha Logistics in Eldon Way in the early hours of this morning.

People living in close proximity to the fire were urged to keep doors and windows closed, with one neighbour saying they were awoken by the flames.

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Chris Page has owned the unit for eight years, storing more than £1million worth of equipment for live poker tournaments.

He said: “I’m gutted. Eight years I’ve been in there and I was just about to renew for a further three years.

“The fire guys said there’s not an awful lot left, the heat was very intense, all the metal racking has buckled, the roof has gone so it’s not looking good.

“They said the heat was so intense they will probably never get to the bottom of it.

“I was in there at half seven last night, I know there was nothing left on and just didn’t expect this this morning.”

It is understood to have been the second fire on Eldon Way in just four weeks, after crews had been called to British Car Auctions on the site last month.

Crews say they are likely to be at the scene for some time today dealing with the incident.

By 2.30pm the fire was out and Kent Fire and Rescue Service had scaled down its presence to three fire engines.

Residents are now able to open doors and windows.

Lyndsey Trueman could see the flames from her home in Nursery Road.

She said: "We woke up at 3.30am, it sounded like really heavy rain outside but we knew we weren't forecast any.

"When we looked outside we couldn't see anything, I went to my daughter's room at the back of our house and there were flames."

The blaze also caused disruption on the rails as stock being stuck in Tonbridge meant the 5.32am train from Sheerness to Sittingbourne was cancelled.

A Southeastern spokesperson said the company was advised by fire chiefs to temporarily close the line while the blaze was being tackled, due to the presence of gas canisters.

Trains are now running but passengers have been warned there may be further delays.

A Kent Police spokesman said officers were called at 3.19am to assist firefighters at the scene.

"The road is closed and the cause of the fire is not yet known," he added.

KFRS confirmed investigation work is yet to begin, with the blaze leaving walls to neighbouring units "severely damaged".

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