A LARGE number of Kent rail commuters were facing long delays into work this morning after a track-side fire shut one of the busiest routes in the South East.

The blaze broke out at a clothing warehouse in New Cross which backs on to the main line from Kent into London and parts of Sussex.

Connex South Eastern said the company's north Kent services were the most affected by the line closure. A spokesman said: "Commuters from north Kent, including the Medway Towns, have experienced delays of around half an hour."

London Fire Brigade said the line had been closed as a precaution by rail operators as crews tackled the blaze although nobody was thought to be injured.

It is the second time this week that Kent commuters have been affected by a fire. On Monday trains services were disrupted by a blaze at the Gillingham railway depot.