Shoppers were evacuated from an Asda store amid a fire in a yard next to the supermarket.

Four fire engines were at the scene of the blaze at Westwood Road in Broadstairs this afternoon.

Witnesses reported huge plumes of thick, black smoke filling the air.

“It’s total chaos. There is loads of black smoke and it’s covering the road nearby,” one said.

The blaze involved a large number of pallets in the yard of the supermarket.

Firefighters confirmed they left the scene at 3.42pm and the cause of the fire is not yet known.

There are no reported injuries.

Police and ambulance crews have also been contacted for comment.