THREE fire engines were called to the QEQM Hospital at Margate early today after a blaze broke out in an electrical cabinet.

The automatic fire alarm brought crews to the scene at around 8.45am from Margate, Westgate and Thanet stations.

A spokesman for the East Kent Hospitals Trust said the fire had started in an IT room electrical cabinet when some wiring overheated, but was put out by the halogen gas safety system in place.

Halogen is an inert gas which smothers the fire, and while the wiring was damaged, nobody was hurt.

The Kent Fire and Rescue Service confirmed they used breathing apparatus and brought in a hose reel jet in case the fire spread.