Eight homeless after flats blaze

The fire was in the top floors and roof. Picture by Steve McPherson

Eight people have been made homeless by a fire in a block of flats in Kent which started on the third and fourth floors and spread into the roof.

At the height of the blaze in Hawley Square, Margate, about 70 firefighters and 12 fire engines were on the scene.

Six flats were evacuated, with the Red Cross caring for the residents. Initial reports that people were trapped inside were unfounded and no-one was injured.

Fire investigation officers remained at the scene on Wednesday morning.

Crews are damping down while an investigation is carried out into the cause of the blaze, which started at 0043 BST.

Officer in charge, station manager Andrew McPherson, said the four-storey building was well alight when the first crew from Margate arrived.

"It was a difficult job because it wasn't safe to fight from within," he said.

"The building is severely damaged but the crews have done an excellent job of stopping the spread to an adjacent building."