Firefighters were called to a blaze in an industrial building in The Street in Lynsted, Sittingbourne this morning.

The fire is believed to have started accidentally, due to an electrical fault and four engines and a bulk water carrier were in attendance.

The inferno is said to have started shortly after 9.30am.

Crews used main jets, hose reel jets and water from a hydrant to tackle the blaze.

The industrial site is home to several businesses, including one which carries out vehicle repairs and servicing.

An eyewitness, who works near to the building, watched the fire develop.

He said: “There was a small bit of smoke, then we turned around and all of sudden there was lots of smoke.

“I know sometimes they have old cars over there, but it could be anything. We regularly hear lots of different noises.

“There were one or two bangs, but that could have just been the fire cracking.

“All we could see from where we were was loads of smoke in the air.”

The black smoke from the fire was also seen billowing by motorists travelling on the A299.

Schools and residents nearby were advised to close their doors and windows to prevent the thick smoke from entering.

No casualties have been reported.

Pictures of the aftermath showed one side of the building severely damaged, with the metal roof severely charred and caved inwards.

Jason Kay, a photographer who was at the scene, said: “Looking at it from the air, it was quite an intense fire.

“Its seemed like the firefighters had a large amount of resources available, including the water carrier.”

Shortly before 1.50pm, two fire engines were stood down from the scene and by 2.40pm the fire had safely been extinguished.

The cause of the blaze is not yet known at this stage, but an investigation is underway.