by Emma Grove

Four fire crews spent almost three hours battling a major blaze at a main road shop.

The fire at Newbie News in Leysdown Road, Leysdown, also caused traffic chaos as parents picked up their children on the school run.

Firefighters were first called to the fire at about 2.40pm Tuesday behind the former newsagents.

Two wooden outbuildings were affected, but it is not believed to have spread to the building.

Crews from Sheppey and Sittingbourne were on the scene for more than two hours.

Police cordoned off the road as there were gas cylinders near to the blaze.

Leysdown Road was closed to traffic and vehicles were diverted from Warden Bay Road.

New owners are believed to have recently taken on the premises and were getting ready to open up for business.

One witness said crowds of people had gathered to watch the drama and there was a lot of smoke.

The fire also affected nearby Costcutter, which lost power in half of the shop at about 3pm.

Costcutter manager Karen Couzens said: “We would be open until 9pm but we will shut early if we have to.

“Losing power hasn’t affected business much at the moment, but it will if we have to turn it all off.”

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