A major route was shut while emergency crews tackled a house fire.

The blaze broke out in the bedroom of the home in Sturry, near Canterbury, just after 11.30am.

Four fire engines and a height vehicle were sent to the scene, and crews wearing breathing apparatus doused the blaze and stopped the flames from spreading, before dampening down hot spots.

The cause is not yet known but it is believed the fire started accidentally in a bedroom and spread to the roof space.

An ambulance service spokesman said medics had left the scene and no one needed to be treated.

Firefighters left the scene just before 3pm.

The A291 Herne Bay Road between Sweechgate in Broad Oak and Hicks Forstal Road in Calcott was closed for several hours, affecting traffic travelling between the city and Herne Bay.

It had reopened by 4pm, when traffic was reported to be flowing freely.