Some of the residents evacuated from their homes during a huge blaze will not be allowed to return to their homes tonight, it has been confirmed.

Balls of fire were seen shooting into the air and explosions heard after a blaze broke out in an industrial unit near Hoo Marina Park, at around 4.30am today.

An evacuation effort saw around 200 residents brought to safety and taken up to the nearby village of Hoo - where the support effort centred around the Hoo Village Institute.

This afternoon Peninsula ward Cllr Ron Sands said most were being allowed back to their homes tonight but approximately 14 would need to stay in a hotel.

"They're going to be put in accommodation locally", he said. "They're being taken back down with the police to get some belongings and medication and will then be taken to the hotel.

"We don't know how long it will be because we don't know what the damage is. We've got teams taking down some of the trees because of the damage it's caused - lots of leaves seem to be burnt or covered in something.

"There will be a police presence on site, along with the fire brigade, all night because some of the homes are not safe.

"All in all we got through it."

Firefighters remain at the scene of the massive fire some 12 hours after it broke out in the early hours of Friday morning.

An investigation into what caused the fire has been launched but it is not yet known how it started, a spokesman for the fire service said.

Earlier Cllr Sands said people from throughout Hoo had been quick to respond, adding: "We rang Linda Perfect about 5.45am and asked if we could open the institute because we didn't have a place for people to come. Linda jumped to it and she's been serving bacon sandwiches and providing accommodation.

"The village has just jumped into action and pulled together. The church opened up its doors, Taggs coffee shop opened its doors, Spar supermarket gave some supplies, so it was a full blown thing. Linda and her team have worked extremely hard in organising it and keeping everyone happy.

Linda added: "We've had local shops sending supplies. Hoo News sent two boxes of biscuits and teabags, and some soup in case we needed it for lunch because we don't know when these people can go home. The talk is they might not be allowed until Monday. There's a crew of us that can provide transport to take people to work if they need to.

"The emergency services and all the nurses have been amazing as well."

Among those living nearest to the fire was Jeanette Mundorfer, whose fence backs onto the yard next to the burning building.

"The first I heard was a bang and a lot of noise," said Jeanette, having found a safer spot on a sofa in the Village Institute this morning. "Then I saw the flames through the bedroom window.

"It was all lit up.

"I pulled back the curtain and I saw the fire, then I grabbed my clothes.

"The fire brigade people were running about getting everybody out. I just grabbed my keys and ran out the door.

"They've all looked after us here. They need a clap at the end of the day."

"It was scary, very scary. I've never seen a fire like it. It just went right along - it never stopped.

"There was a bang at the start and about three or four big bangs after that."

She also praised the efforts of volunteers and community members adding: "They've all looked after us here. They need a clap at the end of the day."

For Brian and Georgina Hardy the year should have been one of celebration as they reached their 60th wedding anniversary.

But with coronavirus already having put paid to their diamond wedding celebration, things looked to have got even worse at 4.30am.

"I woke up to a bang," said Georgina, 78. "I went to the kitchen because I thought it was the freezer but then the police knocked on the door and said you've got to get out. We had to move up the road."

The situation was even more worrying for Brian, 80, who suffers from COPD and emphysema. He wanted to return to his house to get oxygen.

With a return impossible, he had to be taken by police to the village institute where an ambulance crew had oxygen supplies - while his wife remained at the yacht club near the marina.

For two and a half hours the long-standing couple were separated with no idea where the other was.

"I was was walking up the road but I was running out of oxygen," said Brian. "They said you can't go near your house because we're right next to it.

"So I had to come all the way up here. I had to leave my wife in the yacht club. I was really worried and she didn't know where I was."

Georgina added: "Two and half hours later three nurses came down and told me he was up here. I said 'where's my husband?' and they said 'he's in the Hoo Village Club'. I said 'that's typical'.

"All the nurses and everyone have been very helpful."

Rev Mark Borley, vicar of Hoo, said the incident had brought the best out of the people of Hoo.

"We went over and opened up the church for refreshments and shelter at about 5.30am," he said.

"The one thing that really struck me was how the community has rallied round - it's been really nice to see.

"The church, the institute, the coffee shop and the corner shop - everyone's come together. It's lovely to see that community spirit.

"People have given very generously of their time and energy."

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