More than 20 firefighters tackled an out of control bonfire in a garden in Brookland, near New Romney, last night.

Four fire engines and a water unit, carrying a total of about 23 firefighters, rushed to Salters Lane at 7.45pm and found the bonfire had spread to a garage, setting the roof alight.

Soffits, guttering and a window frame on a neighbouring property were damaged by the heat and flames.

Crews wearing breathing apparatus managed to bring the blaze under control by 8.25pm then spent another hour damping down.

New Romney watch manager, Allan Brown said: “When building a bonfire make sure it’s away from property, fences or trees and never leave any fire unattended.

"If your bonfire gets out of control, never try to tackle it yourself, you could end up getting hurt. Always call the fire and rescue service who are trained to deal with these types of incidents.”

Mr Brown recommended following these guidelines when building a bonfire:

• Build your bonfire well clear of buildings, garden sheds, fences and hedges.
• Never use flammable liquids to start a bonfire and never burn dangerous items such as aerosol cans, paint tins, foam furniture or batteries.
• Keep bonfires to a manageable size and evenly built so they collapse inwards as they burn.
• Always check the bonfire’s construction is still sound prior to lighting it and that there are no children or animals inside.
• Don’t leave bonfires unattended. An adult should supervise it until it has burnt out.
• If it has to be left, damp it down with plenty of water.
• Always keep a bucket of water or a hosepipe nearby in case of an emergency.

For more fire safety advice contact Kent Fire and Rescue Service on 0800 923 7000 or visit www.kent.fire-uk.org