Six fire engines and a mobile ladder have been called to a blaze at Arlington House, the iconic seafront tower block in Margate.

The fire started in a rubbish chute just before 3pm, spreading up the chute between the seventh, eighth and ninth floor of the 18-storey block.

At the height of the blaze about 27 firefighters were on the scene, where crews initially used breathing gear to combat the thick smoke billowing all the way up to the 18th floor.

Firefighters used a positive pressure fan to clear the smoke from the upper floors.

Paramedics were also called to the blaze at the block in All Saints Avenue where they treated an asthmatic woman who was suffering from smoke inhalation.

She was not taken to hospital.

Watch manager Paul Gray said: "There was a fire in the bin chute which started on the 7th floor and got up to the ninth. Smoke affected floors up to the eighteenth.

"The bin chute is in the middle of the building and is not overly visible so although flames were not the danger, this was something that needed dealing with.

"Our message is to be vigilant when discarding rubbish, especially smoking materials and flammable waste."

Thanet council leader Iris Johnston came to see if anyone needing temporary housing while the building was partially evacuated.

She said: "A big thank you to the fire service for their prompt response."

Kent Fire and Rescue left the scene at 4.45pm having extinguished the blaze.