An out of control bonfire is what caused a huge blaze at the rear of a main road shop.

Four fire crews were tackling the blaze at Newbie News in Leysdown Road, Leysdown, for almost three hours yesterday afternoon.

The shop has recently been taken over by new owners who plan to open it as a greengrocers and butchers.

Sheppey firefighters said it was an accidental fire which started after a bonfire in an oil drum spread to an old caravan.

The owners had been burning off a bit of old rubbish after clearing out the shop before they begin to renovate it.

Winds carried the flames to the nearby caravan, which was used by the previous owners to store old stock and rubbish.

The fire also began to spread towards the property and the unoccupied flat above it.

Firefighters from Sheppey and Sittingbourne managed to stop it spreading inside the building, but the heat melted the fascia boards and window frame.

Four gas cylinders which were in the garden were also removed before they exploded.

The crews were at the scene from about 2.40pm until 6pm Tuesday.

The road was closed and traffic was diverted until about 4.45pm.

Station commander, Mick Durkan, said: “It was lucky the gas cylinders didn’t go up.

“The caravan was completely destroyed and the back garden is a bit of a bomb site.”

Mr Durkan also warned people to be careful when having bonfires at their properties.

He added: “Bonfires should be kept well away from sheds and buildings and keep an eye on them at all times.”