ASBESTOS dust and potentially explosive gas cylinders were among hazards facing firefighters called to a blaze at a garage workshop in Tunbridge Wells.

It broke out in a Volkswagen repair shop in North Farm Road on Friday while a VW camper van was being welded.

A mechanic who tried to fight the blaze with a hand-held extinguisher suffered burns to his arms and was treated at the scene by an ambulance crew.

Sub Officer Bob Gardner, in charge of tackling the incident, said: "The fire had spread from the camper van's engine compartment to the interior upholstery.

"We could smoke rising from the scene well before we arrived and quickly realised it was a serious fire.

"We tapped into a hydrant and deployed three jets. The workshop was too well alight for us to save it, so the priority was to protect surrounding buildings.

"There was white asbestos dust about and the risk of an argon gas cylinder exploding. Firefighters put on protective suits and water jets were used to cool the gas."

Mr Gardner said firefighters were later treated by a decontamination unit from Ashford and their overalls removed for special cleaning.

The VW camper van was destroyed in the fire, together with 80 per cent of the workshop.