Firefighters were called to tackle a blaze at a luxury hotel earlier today.

Smoke could be seen billowing into the sky from The Clarendon Royal Hotel in Gravesend after the fire broke out at about 8am.

Fire crews were called to reports of a blaze at the hotel on Royal Pier Road.

Eight engines attended the incident, and crews arrived to find a fire in the kitchen at the back of the property.

Firefighters used hose reel jets, main jets and hydrants to extinguish the flames.

A spokesman for Kent Fire and Rescue Service added: "A full evacuation and search of the property was carried out and no casualties have been reported. The cause is believed to have started from a fault with an extractor fan."

Photos were posted on social media showing plumes rising from the site.

One Facebook user posted: "Oh no hope everyone ok? Fire engines still heading Gravesend-bound along the A226 Rochester Road now."

There were traffic delays in the area, but no roads are thought to have been closed.

Witness Tony Stronge said at about 9.30am: "It seems to be out now but there are lots of the fire brigade about. They are inspecting the roof at the moment."

Police were also called to the scene to help the fire service deal with the incident.

Resident of Royal Pier Road Paul Thienel said he and his family were first alerted to the blaze after hearing sirens.

The 57-year-old said: "We could see the smoke coming up from the back and there were a lot of firemen. They were here for around two hours and people seemed to go back into the hotel afterwards."

Neighbour Des Vitalis, 53, added: "I heard the sirens going off and thought it was unusual but then just shrugged my shoulders and did not think anything of it. I saw a bit of commotion and then the fire engines.

"There were a couple of police cars blocking the road too. I did not see any flames but saw about three firemen going up the ladder."

Gill Day, who also lives on the street, said: "We were asleep at the time but we heard the noise and looked out and there was fire engines and an ambulance.

"The people that lived there were out the front. You could see the smoke from my back garden. I could see billows of smoke."

The 64-year-old said she was speaking to a few people who had gathered outside and heard a wedding reception was meant to be going ahead that evening.

She said: "A man was concerned about his daughter's reception which was meant to be there. Hopefully they got their wedding."

Gill added that she was worried the old building may have suffered a similar fate to the former New Inn pub on the junction of Milton Road and Queen Street in Gravesend which suffered a blaze in May.

The management team at the hotel said business is continuing as normal.

The kitchen has been closed since the fire but the site is still serving food.

The historic Thames riverside hotel has been operating since 1845 and is a well-known landmark in Gravesend.

It serves as a boutique hotel, and venue for weddings and live music.

It received national attention in 2013 when owners Les Woollends and head chef Lesz Zajak appeared on Channel 4 programme Four in a Bed.