Fire crews were called to a popular village pub this evening after fire broke out in the bar.

A coffee machine is believed to have caught light just before 6.30pm and quickly filled the downstairs of the pub with smoke.

Customers and staff left the 15th century inn as firefighters arrived to tackle the blaze that developed on the ground floor.

An eyewitness who lives nearby reported a strong smell of burning over the village as police closed the high street from the pub to Blunden Lane.

One crew from Maidstone and another from Marden used a hose reel jet to douse the flames with water.

A turntable ladder was also called from Maidstone after fears the fire had spread to the roof, but firefighters succeeded in containing the blaze on the ground floor.

One crew remained at the scene until just after 8pm, when the road reopened.