Fire crews were called to Monkey Farm car breakers in Sheerness this afternoon when an out-of-control rubbish blaze threatened a neighbouring bungalow.

Workers had been trimming conifers and were burning branches in an incinerator when wind whipped up the flames and set fire to trees and a wooden fence.

The heat melted the plastic conservatory of the building next door.

Jim Ashby, crew manager at Kent Fire and Rescue’s Sheerness fire station, said: “The men had been cutting down trees and burning the branches on a small bonfire when it set fire to vegetation and a wooden fence.

"They had a small hose reel and were monitoring the fire and had been doing all the right things but the wind appears to have got hold of the fire.

“Two teams using breathing apparatus went into the house and the roof space to check it was safe.

"The elderly resident was a bit shaken up but was in no danger.

"The plastic roof on his conservatory was warped by the heat but there was just light smoke damage inside. Luckily our station was nearby so we arrived really quickly.”

A backup crew from Eastchurch was despatched when the original call was upgraded to a possible property fire and pumped extra water to the site from the middle of the Halfway Road. Police controlled traffic.

Mr Ashby warned: “People burning trees should take extra care in the wind and especially if they are working with conifers. They are very combustible.”

At the height of the blaze black smoke was blown across the main road into Sheerness.

Monkey Farm is between the canal and Sheerness Holiday Park.