A couple have been left homeless after fire ripped through their converted barn in Wateringbury Road, East Malling.

Fire crews were called at 11.30pm last night and finally left the scene at 4.45am this morning.

About 35 firefighters and six fire engines were tackling the flames at the height of the blaze.

No one was rescued and there are no reports of any injuries. No other properties were affected.

Kent Fire and Rescue Service was called to reports of a roof on fire just after 11.30pm

Two fire engines were quickly on the scene but needed extra help.

At the height of the blaze around 35 firefighters, six fire engines, a height vehicle and a bulk water carrier attended.

Crews fought the fire from both sides of the roof and used the height vehicle to tackle it from above.

Four teams wearing breathing apparatus used main jets, hose-reel jets, a covering jet, water from a fire hydrant and a fog spike to tackle the blaze.

A fog spike is used to fight fires in confined, difficult to access areas such as roof spaces, attics and partition walling.

It is a lance which allows fire crews to punch holes in a building's wall and direct water in the form of a super-fine mist at the hottest part of the blaze.

Almost all the water evaporates but it dramatically reduces the temperature and helps stop the fire spreading.

A fire spokesman said: "Crews battled exceptionally hard to bring the blaze under control just before 3am. The fire destroyed half the roof and a quarter of the inside of the house.

"Firefighters remained at the property damping down hot-spots until 5am."

The barn's owners were alerted to the blaze by smoke alarms and managed to get out of their home safely.

The cause of the fire is not yet known.

The road was closed while firefighting took place and a Red Cross Vehicle was called to provide support to the couple.

Earlier the same night crews had been called to a chimney fire in Sweets Lane, East Malling from 8.30pm.

Crews from two fire engines used chimney gear to extinguish the fire and stop it spreading. They spent around 30 minutes cutting away to ensure there were no remaining hot spots and left the property shortly after 11pm.