A blaze broke out in the store room of a village shop today.

Police and firefighters were called to the Ron Willis newsagents and Post Office in Swalecliffe, near Whitstable at 10.50am.

The fire is thought to have started in a fuse box in the store room of the shop in Herne Bay Road.

Crews wearing breathing apparatus used a hose reel to douse the flames, and a fan to clear smoke from the building.

They left half an hour later.

No one was injured in the fire, and the cause is being investigated.

The shop has been left without electricity, and UK Power Networks engineers are on the scene.

Manager Richard Scott said only minor damage was caused, and that he hoped the shop would be open tomorrow morning.

The shop's owner, Kevin Willis, is on his way back from a family holiday to deal with the aftermath.