Thick plumes of smoke filled the sky in Gravesend earlier today (July 3) after a roof went up in flames.

Kent Fire and Rescue were called to the blaze on an external flat roof of a fourth floor block of flats in Park Place at around 12.30pm.

Adjacent properties were evacuated whilst crews extinguished the fire.

Chantry Community Academy, which is located next to Park Place, was unaffected by the blaze but a spokeswoman from the school said they carried out procedural checks after spotting the thick plumes of smoke.

News Shopper:

The scene above Park Place as firefighters tackled the blaze. (c.) Eddie Armstrong

News Shopper:

Fire crews at work. (c.) Tasha Treleaven

News Shopper:

(c.) Nick Smith

A spokeswoman from Kent Fire and Rescue said two crews accessed the fire using a 135m ladder.

She said: "They had extinguished the fire by 12.48pm but are likely to continue damping down, turning over and exposing hot spots for approximately 45 minutes."

Did you see what happened? Call the newsroom on 01689 885721 or jessica.bell@london.newsquest.co.uk