Two cars suffered substantial damage during a blaze in a garage in Strood last night.

Firefighters were called out to an address in Chapter Road at about 11.30pm after the fire broke out inside the building.

It is understood the two cars inside the garage at the rear of the property included a classic car being restored and the homeowner’s family car, a Renault.

The fire was well alight when crews from Medway and Strood were called to the scene and firefighters used breathing apparatus to enter the building and put out the flames.

A spokesman for Kent Fire and Rescue Service said: “The man who lived at the address had earlier been welding inside the garage while working on the classic car.

“We think that may have smouldered all afternoon and caused the fire.

“The family car is probably a write-off and the classic car did suffer substantial damage, but can probably be repaired.

“We were at the scene for about two hours.

"It was an excessive fire and the building also suffered quite a bit of damage.”