Emergency services battled flames at a tip after a fire in an electrical container last night.

The blaze at Ashford’s waste recycling centre on Cobbs Wood Industrial Estate started at 9.13pm.

Kent County Council - which runs the service - say the fire was quickly extinguished and the tip is open as usual today.

A spokeswoman said: “There was a small fire at the Ashford Household Waste Recycling Centre (HWRC) yesterday evening.

“The fire was within one of the electrical containers.

“Kent Fire and Rescue Service attended and were able to safely put the fire out.

“The HWRC has been deemed safe and the site is open as usual for the public.”

Pictures show plumes of smoke billowing from the centre.

A fire service spokesman added: “We were called to Edinburgh Road, Ashford to reports of a skip on fire.

“Four fire engines attended and crews used main jets and foam to extinguish the fire.

“There were no reported injuries, the cause is believed to be accidental.”

It is the second incident at the site in four months after a small explosion saw it close for a whole day in October.