A large stretch of farm land caught caught fire yesterday evening.

Fire fighters spent an hour and a half tackling the blaze, which was spread over 15 acres of a field off Beltring Road, close to the Hop Farm Family Park in Paddock Wood.

A spokesman from the fire service said that although the fire covered a large area, only about 20 per cent of the land was actually ablaze.

Four fire engines were needed to put out the flames, which had also set alight to straw bales on the land.

Kent Fire and Rescue Service were called at 6.15pm and left at 7.45pm.