Fire chiefs are warning people to hold off their bonfire night celebrations after a blaze nearly destroyed two properties on Romney Marsh last night.

Despite strike action being held until Tuesday evening, firefighters were called to the out of control bonfire in Dungeness Road, Dungeness at 6pm - just as the strike started.

Crews brought a large 10m x 5m (32ft x 16ft) fire under control after it had spread to a caravan and the rear of a wooden built house.

They were at the scene for just under two hours and left at 7.57pm.

Luckily, no injuries have been reported as a result of the fire.

The strikes mean there are fewer crews on call to deal with life-threatening injuries and bosses are asking for the public's help to prevent "avoidable fires".

Crews in Folkestone were also called to a set of bins alight.

This morning directors of Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) renewed their calls for people to wait to light their bonfires during the four days of the strike which ends on Tuesday, November 4 at 6pm.

"Everyone needs to take responsibility to make sure that their property is safe so that we can ensure that crews are there for life risk incidents." KFRS director Sean Bone-Knell

Steve Demetriou said: "During the strike we have less engines and crews than normal, and we need to ensure they are there for life threatening incidents.

"That’s why we are asking local people to wait to have their bonfires until after the strike ends at 6pm on 4 November."

Fellow director Sean Bone-Knell added: "KFRS is again asking the public to not set bonfires over the next four days and take sensible precautions such as not leaving tumble dryers and cookers on while you are out of the house and clearing visible rubbish outside buildings bearing in mind that this is bonfire weekend.

"Everyone needs to take responsibility to make sure that their property is safe so that we can ensure that crews are there for life risk incidents rather than out dealing with avoidable fires."

It was still a busy night for crews with other incidents reported across the county including four cars on fire in a Canterbury car park, rubbish ablaze in Strood and a barn fire in Hextable.