Dramatic pictures have revealed the devastating aftermath of two large fires that swept through land near the Dartford marshes and heathland off the A2.

At the height of the blazes, 12 fire engines were sent to scrubland off the carriageway near Dartford Heath, and another 18 went to a huge field fire close to a housing development near the Dartford Crossing.

Dartford felt the full force of yesterday's record-breaking temperatures as the exceptionally dry earth provided fertile ground for flames to spread.

New pictures have revealed the aftermath of the devastating fire on the A2 near Dartford Heath which consumed large parts of foliage next to the hard shoulder.

Firefighters were seen taking a well-earned break this morning after battling the blaze in punishing conditions since midday yesterday.

Aerial shots taken from Dartford Marshes, near Durrell Dene, on the Bridge Estate, show the scorched remains of another huge blaze which threatened to engulf nearby stables and an animal sanctuary. No casualties have been reported at either incident.

Crews remain at the scene of both fires where operations are now being gradually scaled down.

Two fire engines and a fogging unit are at the fire on Dartford Heath near Rochester Way on the A2.

Crews are said to be making good progress and are using hose reel jets to dampen down any remaining hotspots and to prevent any further fire spread.

Smoke from the fire is now minimal and drivers shouldn’t expect to see large plumes of smoke drifting across the carriageway.

Elsewhere crews remain at the scene of a grass fire on the Dartford Marshes near the Bridge Estate.

Four fire engines and two fogging units were in attendance as of midday and crews continued to tackle the fire today.

Firefighters have also been making good progress throughout the morning, damping down any remaining hotspots and preventing any fire spread.

This included at the nearby clay pigeon club at the marshes where fire crews have been speaking to media and dampening down hotspots at the gun club where there were fears over its ammunition rounds setting alight.

Earlier today Lawrence Pater, group manager from Kent Fire and Rescue Service, discussed the crew's ongoing efforts at the blaze near the Bridge Estate.

He told KMTV: "It started yesterday around about midday. On arrival we found a fully developed fire spreading across from Dartford Marshes across an area of about four square miles.

"As with wildfire it probably started with some sort of refraction from broken glass or something like that.

"It was extremely hot... crews worked extremely hard in really arduous conditions yesterday, 40C plus to extinguish the fire."

He added: "The risk has been really reduced. There is no longer a warning in force which means we don't need people to keep their windows and doors shut."

At the height of the blaze near the Bridge Estate the local community rallied together to safely rescue all of the animals at the Spirits Rest Dartford Horse & Animal Sanctuary.

The shelter had pleaded for help from horse owners after their stables came within 20 yards of the escalating blaze.

Its founder Christine Bates told KentOnline the community response in their hour of need was "truly amazing" with people from all over the county offering to travel to lend their support so its animals could be brought to safety.

"We had 128 people offer there horse boxes and we said please don't all come," she said.

"It was just amazing the community support we had from everyone. People had offered to come from all over Kent and we tried to discourage it."

In addition to horses, people also flocked to offer shelter to all of the sanctuary's animals which include chickens, rabbits and fox cubs.

Ms Bates, who lives in nearby flats on the Bridge Estate, also heaped praise on the fire service.

"Thirteen hours straight they stood fighting it and they won," she added. "They were just amazing."