Firefighters tackled a blaze at the soon-to-be Wetherspoon in Ramsgate this afternoon

Crews were at the scene fighting a fire involving a fork lift truck inside the building that's under construction on Harbour Parade.

They used breathing apparatus and a main jet to tackle the fire on the ground floor of the building, as well as a positive pressure ventilation fan for prevention work.

Video: Smoke can be seen rising from the building during the fire - courtesy of @IdealScenario

The building is undergoing a £4 million development to transform it into a Wetherspoon pub.

It is a grade II listed building, and is due to open in August this year under the name the Royal Victoria Pavilion.

A spokesman for Wetherspoons said: "At 3.45pm today, we experienced a fire within the Ramsgate development.

"The fork lift truck hired in by subcontractor to lift the new steels in to position caught alight.

"Site personnel tried to extinguish, however due to the diesel engine, their efforts were in vain.

"The building was evacuated safely and there were no injuries

"The fire brigade arrived within two engines and extinguished the fork lift truck. Fortunately, the damage has been limited to fork lift.

"All personnel are safe and the building remains unaffected by the incident."

The former casino and dance hall has stood derelict since 2008.

It previously suffered from neglect and serious damage caused by a fire in 2011.

The fork lift truck was completely destroyed. The cause of the fire isn't known, but no-one is believed to have been injured. Firefighters finished at the scene around 4.30pm.