Former church goes up in flames

Fire at St Martin's Court. Picture by photography student Paul Overal

Thirty firefighters were sent to tackle a blaze in a former church in Dover, newly converted into a block of flats.

The fire started at St Martin's Court on the corner of Priory Hill and High Street just before midday.

Parish councillor Josie Reeves, from nearby River, said the flats were near completion, with workmen still on site.

Kent Fire and Rescue Service said everyone had escaped safely from the building but nearby premises were evacuated as a precaution.

There were no reports of injuries.

"The roof is well alight and there's smoke coming out of the front of the windows on the upper floor," eyewitness Ms Reeves told BBC Radio Kent.

"They have been doing a lot of work on this old church - cleaning the brickwork and putting in new washing machines and all sorts."

She said there were five or six fire engines at the scene and traffic was at a standstill as police had closed roads in the area.

Firefighters remained on the scene into Saturday evening and building inspectors were being called in to assess the safety of the structure.