Kent fire fighters have been praised after spending 10 hours tackling a huge blaze in Sutton-at-Hone.

Crews were called to the fire at scaffolding yard in Station Road, close to Farningham Road Railway Station, at 12.29am this morning (February 17).

Due to the size of the fire, Farningham Station was closed along with tracks leading to London Victoria and Station Road.

Kent Fire and Rescue Service Station Manager Andrew Ray said: “Crews were faced with a real challenge in the location of the fire which was between Network Rail infrastructure and Station Road.

“The closure of the rail infrastructure was essential to the firefighting that was planned with our height vehicle.

"Although the railway lines are closed to passenger traffic at that time, engineering trains run up and down North Kent railway lines, so we needed to work with Network Rail to close the rail and totally isolate the live rail, because of the risk from the large volumes of water needed to tackle the blaze from a good vantage point.”

News Shopper: Firefighters were called to the supermarket at 5:37pm. (Picture: Kent Fire and Rescue Service / Sean Holden)

Crews used a compressed air foam system (CAFS), three main jets and hose and breathing apparatus to tackle to blaze.

Mr Ray added: “Full credit must go to the crews for the work they did. ] "It was particularly challenging given the rail infrastructure that proved a challenge and that the building was a steel structure that had lost its strength and had started to collapse.

"They really should be congratulated for that hard work carried out early on in controlling the fire."

Farningham Road Station and Station Road were re-opened with all rail services back up and running from 5.30am.

Once the fire was out crews damped down and eventually left the scene after 10 hours.

An investigation into the fire is underway and is being conducted by KFRS’ Fire Investigation Research Team and British Transport Police.