Fire crews at the Fenn Bell pub in St Mary Hoo

by Nicola Jordan

Four members of the same family were taken by air ambulance to hospital after reports of an explosion at a historic pub.

Two boys, believed to be aged five and nine, and their parents were in the popular Fenn Bell Inn on the Hoo Peninsula when a fire broke out at about 1.10pm yesterday.

When three crews from Strood and Thames-side arrived at the isolated 17th century pub, on the Ratcliffe Highway at St Mary Hoo, the fire had been put out with an extinguisher.

The family was taken to King’' College Hospital, in London. A fifth person, a woman not related to the family, was treated by paramedics at the scene.

A spokesman for Kent Police said none of the injuries are thought to be life threatening.

Officers have launched an investigation into the cause of the blaze.

A cordon was set up around the pub and a stretch of the road was closed.

Police said the road closure would remain in place until the pub had been made safe.

The pub, which is popular with Sunday lunchtime diners, was evacuated.