Drone images show a popular restaurant and nightclub in Maidstone has been completely gutted by a major fire that broke out in the early hours.

The blaze erupted at Mu Mu in Week Street at around 2.30am.

At its height 15 fire engines and an estimated 60 firefighters were at the scene.

It is now under control, and previous advice for people living and working nearby to close windows and doors due to smoke, has been lifted.

Pictures show most of the building's roof has collapsed and piles of rubble fill the inside spaces left exposed.

Nikki Waterman, of nearby Brenchley House in Maidstone High Street, said she first became aware of the fire at Mu Mu shortly after it started.

She said: "It sounded like a popping noise, so I looked out of my window and my friend phoned me and she said 'look it's on fire'.

"I didn't really know what she meant so I went up to her flat and looked out of her window. It was kind of a little fire in what looked like the back garden and then, literally, from zero to 10, within seconds, it just erupted onto the roof."

She added: "At first I did worry because of all the smoke and everything, and as the fire was gradually getting bigger there was more smoke and it was just crazy.

"It was really horrible just to sit there and watch, and not be able to do anything or help in any way."

When asked if she and her neighbours were evacuated, Nikki said: "We were told to stay in our building and not to leave our windows open."

On what the response was like from the fire crews, Nikki said it was the "quickest" she had seen.

Firefighters tackle blaze at Mu Mu in Maidstone. Videos: Bethan Maisie Caffyn

"Everything just happened really fast and I would say they were there within three to five minutes. It may have been quicker," she said.

"At first there were like four to five fire engines and then, out of nowhere, I counted 15 to 16.

"All of the emergency services have worked tirelessly. I just wish there was something we could do to help."

She added: "From what I can see from my floor, it's literally the whole of the top floor that's just completely gone. You can see inside of the building.

"My heart goes out to them [the owners] and it's times like this that we really need to pull together as a community because they have been running that for a long time and it's just really sad.

"I do hope that whatever damage has been done that it can get, hopefully, rebuilt and back to how it once was before."

Two surrounding properties in the area were evacuated as a precaution.

At about 11.30am there were still eight fire engines and a height vehicle at the scene in Week Street.

Members of the public are still being asked to avoid the area where possible, while crews and other agencies work at the scene.

Read more: All the latest news from Maidstone