Plumes of smoke can be seen coming from a National Grid site after a large blaze started in the middle of the night.

Firefighters have been tackling the flames at the site in Sellindge, between Hythe and Ashford, since 12.30am.

Watch: Fire crews remain at the scene

National Grid UK say the site has been evacuated and that the "safety of our staff, emergency teams and local residents is our highest priority".

At the peak of the blaze, 12 fire engines were in attendance, however this has now been reduced to four.

Compressed air foam was used to prevent the fire from spreading to other nearby buildings.

By 9.30am, 10 fire engines, a height vehicle and a bulk water carrier remained at the scene in Church Lane.

Progress is being made, Kent Fire and Rescue say, however firefighters are expected to be on site for some hours to come.

As a result of the fire crews' activity, nearby residents may experience a dip in water pressure.

Church Lane has also been closed in both directions between the A20 Hythe Road and Roman Road in Aldington.

Police are also at the scene.

A Swan Lane resident, who asked not to be named, said: “The first we really knew about it was the smell in the morning, there was definitely smoke in the air.

"Our water pressure dipped for sure but it sounds like some other roads had theirs cut off completely.

"They’ve stopped pumping outside the pub now but it will probably take a while for pressure to get back to normal."

A statement from National Grid said: "There has been a fire at our IFA interconnector site in Sellindge and emergency services are in attendance.

"The site has been evacuated and the safety of our staff, emergency teams and local residents is our highest priority.

"We will provide a further update in due course."

The station is a key site where power arrives in Britain from France.

Read more: All the latest news from Ashford