TUNBRIDGE Wells town centre witnessed traffic chaos yesterday as firefighters dealt with a blaze at the former ABC Cinema in Mount Pleasant Road.

Four fire engines raced to the building, near Tunbridge Wells town hall, after smoke was seen pouring from upper windows at around 3.30pm.

Firefighters using breathing apparatus entered the building and dealt with a fire on the upper floors as police and highways officials diverted traffic away from the scene.

The fire was put out within an hour and the response scaled down. The cause of the fire is now being investigated.

Borough planners recently turned down an application to redevelop the site as a shopping and leisure complex.

It closed to film enthusiasts when the Odeon opened a new multi-screen cinema at Knights Park, Tunbridge Wells, an out-of-town site near Pembury.