by Chris Hunter

chunter@thekmgroup.co.uk

Firefighters have battled a huge blaze in flats above a
village Post Office.

Up to 80 fire officers were called to Staplehurst overnight to
tackle the fire in the three-storey building, in the High
Street.

About 10 people were evacuated and spent the night in the
village hall.

The fire was reported just after 3.30am.

The first firefighters on the scene said that they found a "well
developed fire" in the roof of the building which was threatening
to spread to neighbouring homes.

It is not known how it started.

The Post Office itself is not damaged, firefighters said. The
worst damage was to the roof, both from the fire and from
firefighters efforts to tackle it.

Sorry, this video asset has been removed.

Audio: Reporter Luke
Hollands speaking from the fire-damaged scene today

Many of the homes beneath suffered water damage but were not
damaged by flames.

Mr Skilton said that firefighters are now damping down, but
there are still "hotspots" in the building.

The High Street remains closed between Offens Drive and
Bell Lane.

Diversions are in place and there have been reports of lorries
using cut-throughs along country lanes.

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