A large tyre fire at a farm is thought to have started within a pile of metal and disused white goods, the fire service has confirmed.

Five engines and a bulk water carrier were sent to Arnold Farm in Back Street, Leeds, near Maidstone, at around 8.30am yesterday.

The fire service says it believes the blaze started on a pile of metal and disused goods before spreading to a pile of nearby tyres.

After spending seven hours at the scene, crews left still unsure of the cause of the fire, and it is not being investigated any further.

Nobody was injured in the fire, but nearby residents were advised to shut their doors and windows.

One woman, who lives next to the farm, explained how she woke up and could feel the heat.

She said: “I woke up at about 8.45am and thought someone had started a morning bonfire.

“I looked up in the sky and saw it was dark and thought it was going to rain, but then it turned black and it was clear it was smoke.

“I was looking across the fields and could see the powerful smoke rising and going backwards, but just thought someone was burning something.”

One witness nearby said they had been warned there was a lot of “toxic smoke”.

She added: “Huge fire at Arnold Farm, fire service advised to shut windows and stay indoors if in the affected area.”