Saturday, 17 November 2007, 12:59 GMT
Firefighters tackle cottage blaze

Firefighters have tackled a huge blaze in a thatched cottage in Kent, which led to a third of the roof being destroyed by fire.

Crews were called to the scene in Penshurst at about 1800 GMT on Friday and stayed at the scene until 0530 GMT on Saturday.

The blaze was tackled by a 50-strong team of firefighters, a spokesman said.

He said the fire broke out in the chimney of the property in Grove Road, and then spread to the roof.

A fire officer returned to the site on Saturday morning to assess the damage, he added.

At the height of the fire, crews had to fight the flames from outside the building because it was too dangerous to enter, he said.

The blaze is not being treated as suspicious.