ONE of most prominent landmarks in Tunbridge Wells was destroyed by fire at the weekend in the second serious blaze to hit the town in as many weeks.

More than 100 firefighters worked around the clock to control the blaze at Reliance House in Mount Ephraim. Several workmen were said to have been inside the building at the time but escaped before the fire took hold.

The alarm was raised at about 1pm on Saturday. Flames fanned by strong winds engulfed the top of the building and ripped through the building, sending smoke billowing across the town's skyline. It is not yet clear how the fire started.

Crowds quickly gathered at the scene and surrounding roads were closed causing traffic chaos. People watched on in horror as windows shattered and the roof collapsed, sending a flagpole tumbling to the ground.

David Wright, 52 of Calverley Park, Tunbridge Wells, one of the first people at the scene, said: "The fire ripped across the front of the building. The flames were very high. Crowds started to gather and everybody was very upset. It is a real landmark in the town and it is a very important building to people."

Firefighters with breathing apparatus entered the burning building but were forced back by the intensity of the heat and smoke.

Tunbridge Wells firefighter Kevin Greagsby ) was one of the first people inside the building. He said: "It was very smoky and very hot. We started firefighting but we had to be pulled out because of the amount of smoke. It was too dangerous.

"The building was very unsafe and there was always the possibility it would collapse."

More than 20 fire crews from across Kent and East Sussex tackled the blaze from the ground and above. Low water pressure at the top of the hill hampered their efforts and extra hydraulic equipment had to be brought in.

The fire was finally put out more than 24 hours after the alarm was raised. All four floors of the building were destroyed by the fire. The building used to house the Reliance Mutual insurance company It was being converted into million-pound luxury apartments.

The blaze follows a fire at the Kent and Sussex Hospital in Tunbridge wells 10 days earlier.