A blaze that ripped through a newly-refurbished seafront restaurant is being investigated.

Three fire engines were called to GB Pizza Co in Margate in the early hours of this morning.

Witness Sam Castle called 999 after seeing the incident on his way home from work.

The 24-year-old said: "I was driving past after work and the building was already on fire so quickly stopped my car to call 999.

"When I arrived at 4.04am there was a homeless guy trying to put it out but the phone operator was telling me to get them away from the building and that they had two fire trucks on the way.

"The phone operator asked questions like ‘are there any flats above it?’, ‘is anyone inside?’ and generally trying to gather information about how it could’ve started.

"I'd say roughly three minutes after I made the call about three police cars showed up and started blocking off the road, knocking on doors close by to see if they were occupied to potentially evacuate anyone that was close.

"Then about two minutes after the police arrived, the first fire truck turned up and within seconds of the vehicle stopping, they already had their temperature cameras out so they could focus on the parts of the fire that were burning the hottest.

"Overall I think the police and fire services did an amazing job with their response times and how they dealt with the incident so a huge well done to them."

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A Kent Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: “Crews were called to a fire in a restaurant in Marine Drive, Margate.

"Three fire engines attended, and crews wearing breathing apparatus tackled the fire with hose reel jets. Kent Police also attended.

“There were no reported injuries and the cause is being investigated.”

Photos posted on social media show flames engulfing the doorway of the restaurant.

Fire crews finished at the scene just before 8am.

The police and business have also been contacted for comment.

More as we have it.