An e-cigarette could have been to blame for a fire which gutted a village shop last night.

The Co-op store in the village of Upchurch went up in flames just as it was shutting at around 10pm.

At its height, four fire crews were fighting the blaze in the The Street, with a couple living in the flat upstairs evacuated.

This morning the shop's windows were shattered, shutters were hanging limply and large parts of the staff area were flooded.

Police stood at the entrance and the interior of the shop was heavily smoke damaged, with charred cans and food scattered across the floor.

Some staff only found out what had happened when they turned up for work.

Neighbours said they had been woken by flashing lights and billowing smoke just after 10pm and were told this morning an electrical fault was the most likely cause.

Nick Thompson-Moore, who alongside aunt Joanne runs horse supply shop Snaffles, which is opposite Co-op, said it looked like an e-cigarette had triggered the blaze.

"The manager raised the alarm after spotting smoke as he was locking up and setting the alarm. Police were guarding the door all night, presumably to stop looters getting away with all that cooked food," he said.

He added: "They want to get it back open as soon as possible."

Thanks to the quick-thinking store boss the neighbours were able to get out without incident and fire crews were on the scene within minutes.

Other residents of Upchurch said the impact of the shop closing would be felt not just in the village, which is home to a large number of elderly people who find it difficult to get elsewhere, but in surrounding areas which have already lost their stores.

One couple, living next to the shop but who did not wish to be named, said: "Last year we lost our green grocers and now we're minus two shops. It was very popular, there would be four big deliver vans every day. It will be missed by the village.

They added: "There was masses of smoke. Apparently it started in the kitchen area."

Fire investigators this morning said it was too early to speculate what had caused the blaze, although there was no suggestion it was suspicious.

A spokesman for Kent Fire and Rescue Service said: "Four fire engines attended and crews wearing breathing apparatus used two hose reel jets and water from a hydrant to extinguish the fire on the ground floor.

"People living in accommodation above the shop evacuated the building.

"There were no reported injuries. The cause is being investigated."

Fire crews were on site until nearly 1am.

Resident Pauline Witherden said: "This will be tough for all the older residents who can’t get out of the village easily."

Police were still at the store this morning.

Police spokesman Andy Saunders said: "We were called by Kent Fire and Rescue Service at 10.26pm to a fire at a supermarket in The Street, Upchurch.

"Officers attended to assist with traffic management and a temporary road closure was put in place."

The building was originally opened as the King Edward pub in 1893 and then became a Royal Naval convalescent home for sailors.

It was taken over by the Co-op in 1952.

Some villagers say it is haunted by the ghost of the convalescent home matron Miriam Hilton-Coulton.

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