The owners of a popular restaurant badly damaged by a fire have thanked people for their support during the difficult time.

Sea View Fish Restaurant and Takeaway was damaged after a blaze broke out at its Beach Street premises just after 10am last Tuesday.

The family-run business has been closed ever since.

Mark Woolls, speaking on behalf of the family, paid tribute to the fire brigade for its quick response and thanked people for their messages of support.

He said they are hoping to reopen soon.

“We cannot thank the fire brigade enough for their prompt response and professionalism which saved the building from any further damage,” he said.

“We are now working closely with the insurers and fire protection team so that we can reopen as soon as possible.

“We would also like to thank everyone who has sent us messages of support, it has helped us through this tough time.

“The Woolls family and the staff of Sea View would like to thank everyone for their custom and can’t wait to see you all again soon along with new customers.”

He asked people to keep their eyes open for the opening dates.

The fire is thought to have involved a deep-fat fryer unit in the ground floor cooking area.

Eye witnesses said they saw smoke billowing through the high street which alerted them to the blaze.

Crews in four fire engines and a height vehicle raced to the scene and doused flames which had spread to the first floor and ground floor flat roof of the property.

A Kent Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said: “Crews wearing breathing apparatus used a fog spike in the voids and an extraction unit, creating a super-fine misting effect to reduce the temperature and spread of a fire.”