SAND rather than water was used to put out a post box fire in Orpington last night (July 4).

Firefighters were called to the box in Pound Court Drive at around midnight after receiving reports of flames coming out of the box.

When they arrived they poured sand through the slot to extinguish the fire.

They were there for around 15 minutes.

It is believed the fire was started by youths who put lit rubbish into the box.

Firefighters are not allowed to open post boxes so it is not known how much mail was damaged by the flames.