Residents have been evacuated from their homes after a blaze broke out at a workshop containing gas cylinders this evening.

Emergency services have descended on Ryarsh Lane in West Malling after smoke was seen rising from the sky shortly after 8pm.

Officials have set up a 100-metre exclusion zone around the scene of the incident, as they say the incident is "believed to involve gas cylinders".

A fire service spokesman said: "We are currently dealing with a blaze in a workshop in West Malling.

"It is believed to involve gas cylinders.

"A 100-metre exclusion zone has been set up with residents being temporarily evacuated from their homes."

He stresses there are no reports of any injuries.

But a warning is in place for people in the area to close windows and doors as a precaution to protect themselves from the smoke plume.

Ryarsh Lane and nearby King Street are both understood to have been cordoned off.

West Malling High Street has also been closed to allow emergency services clear access to the scene.

But while they battle the flames, trains have been stopped from travelling along a stretch of tracks close by.

A Southeastern spokesman said: "The fire brigade has placed around the fire an exclusion zone, which includes the railway so no trains can run.

"Trains are being diverted to or via Tonbridge, and we are working to arrange replacement buses between Swanley and Maidstone."

This is the second fire to have taken place in Kent this evening.

Flames ripped through a £50,000 piece of play park equipment near Sheerness seafront at about 6.20pm.

A probe has been launched into the cause of the incident, which was brought under control 25 minutes later.

The fire has been put out in the early hours of Friday, at around 4am, and the area has been made safe.

The earlier advice for people living nearby to close windows and doors, has been lifted.

Kent Fire and Rescue Service's

volunteer response team attended overnight to support people affected by the incident.

There were no reported injuries, and the cause of the fire is not yet known.