A BUSY road was brought to a standstill after a ferocious fire broke out in a house thought to have been used by squatters and drug addicts.

The blaze was so fierce that neighbouring properties in Luton Road, Chatham, had to be evacuated and the road was closed to all traffic to allow firefighters to get their engines close enough to bring the flames under control.

At one point, smoke spread to attic spaces in both neighbouring houses, but firefighters stopped the flames spreading any further.

Four fire engines and their crews, along with a high vehicle ladder platform unit were sent to the scene. Crews from Strood, Chatham, Gillingham, Medway and Thames-side were sent to the burning building just after 9am on Sunday.

The home, which neighbours said was used by drug addicts, has been severely damaged by the fire. But nobody was in the house when emergency services arrived on the scene and it is not yet known how the fire started.

Police officers were making door-to-door enquiries and were diverting traffic away from the area.

Buses had to do U-turns and use other routes to get passengers to their destinations during the incident.

One neighbour who didn’t want to be named, said: “I woke up to the sounds of the sirens and could smell there was a fire.

“We don’t even know who lives there; the downstairs windows have been broken for about 18 months. It’s a really run-down place, you see druggies go in and out all the time.”

Martin Cripps from Kent Fire and Rescue Service was the chief investigating fire officer on scene.

He said; “The place was well alight when we arrived. There is a substantial amount of damage to the property and we were on the scene for about two hours. The cause of the fire is under investigation.”

Medway Police would like to speak to anyone who may have witnessed the fire. Call 01634 884252 or Crimestoppers in confidence on 0800 555 111.