A thick plume of smoke could be seen across Medway after 1,000 tyres caught light on farmland in Rochester.

Firefighters from Medway and Strood fire stations were called out to deal with the massive pile of burning rubber at about 7.30pm yesterday.

It is not clear how the fire started, but crews were on the scene in Stoney Lane, just off Maidstone Road, dowsing the flames with foam for about two and a half hours.

A spokesman for Kent Fire and Rescue Service said: “As we were on our way to the fire we could see the thick, dense smoke.

“We estimate there were about 1,000 tyres on the pile, which was well alight when we arrived.

“The foam worked well, there were three pumps at the scene, two from Medway, along with another from Strood.

“At this stage it is not known how the fire started.”

Firefighters were also called out to the M2 yesterday to put out a fire in the engine of a Land Rover.

A crew from Medway fire station was called to the coastbound carriageway between the Strood and Chatham turn-offs shortly after 7pm.

A spokesman for KFRS said: “The fire had broken out in the engine compartment of the vehicle.

“We managed to put it out before it spread to the rest of the vehicle.

“We were on the scene for about half-an-hour or so.”