DOZENS of firefighters from all over East Kent fought a blaze that ripped through flats in the former Royal Victoria Hospital in the centre of Dover last night.

The fire broke out at Royal Victoria Place in the High Street shortly after 7.30pm. Residents were evacuated from the flats as the blaze took hold.

At one stage flames were leaping from the roof of the building, and turntable ladders and hydraulic platforms from Folkestone and Thanet were used. Police closed off the main street through the town, and paramedics stood by in case anyone was injured.

Firefighters also used the yard at the rear of Dover fire station,which backs onto the flats, as an area for fighting the fire.

The cause of the blaze is not yet known, but there were reports of fireworks being set off very close to the area. No one was hurt.