A 57-acre field with stables has been completely destroyed by an out-of-control bonfire in West Malling.

The farmland to the side of the A228 in the village was consumed by flames as they made their way across the land at Ashton Way.

Eight fire engines responded to the 999 calls that flooded in and firefighters battled the blaze which had begun shortly after 12pm.

Izzy Carlyle, a groom who has four horses at the farmland, was called at around 2pm by a colleague who told her to get to the stables as quickly as she could.

The 30-year-old said: “The whole field was burnt and the bales of straw were gone and the stables were burnt too. My tack has been burnt as well.

“The field the horses are normally in are where the stables are so it was fortunate they are okay.

Farm machinery was used to create a firebreak to help prevent the fire from spreading further and to break down some stacks of baled straw.

Motorists were also being warned to take extra care due to smoke drifting across the road while nearby residents were advised to keep windows and doors closed as a precaution.

One lane of the A228 was also closed between Tower View and West Malling Railways Station due to the fire.

Miss Carlyle added: “I had to call the vet because I thought one of the horses might have inhaled some smoke. One was breathing rapidly and coughing a bit.

“The fire engines were at the bottom of the field and one of the firefighters said the travellers were having a bonfire and that is how it started.

“The farmer has lost a lot of his straw and land and the stables will have to be built again. It’s a bit of a rubbish end to the afternoon.

“There were eight fire engines and one of the crews had come from Strood. The firefighters have been brilliant. They have done everything they can to help.”

This is the fourth standing corn fire to have erupted in three days following similar incidents in Stodmarsh, Stockbury, and Dartford.