FIRE crews battled for five hours to tackle flames at a Kent nightclub.

Crews from across the county were drafted in to fight the fire at Air and Breathe in Essex Road, Dartford.

The blaze started in an outside bin area which lies directly underneath the over 25s Breathe part of the club at around 12.45am on Sunday.

Red watch from Dartford, who were first to arrive said the fire quickly spread to an area under the floor of the club above. Thick smoke made breathing apparatus essential.

Leading firefighter Bob Chilmaid said: "There is quite a lot of smoke damage and we had to cut away floors to try and contain the fire. "We needed so many firefighters because we needed to use breathing apparatus."

An investigation into the cause of the blaze has been launched.