SMOKE was billowing out of every available gap in a derelict building when firefighters arrived last night (June 7).

The crews were called to Queen Street, Gravesend, at around 8pm and had some difficulty getting into the boarded up building.

But once inside the 20 firefighters found the fire was not as bad as first thought although there were still problems because several floorboards and staircases were missing.

Before becoming derelict the building had been a shop downstairs and flats upstairs.

Firefighters were there for around three hours.