Firefighters had to tackle a woodland blaze on the hottest day of the year.

Two crews put out the flames that seared through Dane Valley in Margate today (Sunday).

Margate Fire Station watch manager Nick Salt, said: “The fire burned trees and shrubbery on 20 sq m of the 30sq m woodland.

“It could have become a lot more serious had we not got there in time.

“But we were able to put water on the fire within two to three minutes of getting there.”

The cause of the blaze was unknown but a discarded cigarette has not been ruled out.

Crews from both the Margate and Ramsgate stations were called out at 3pm and were at the scene for an hour.

Sunday was classed as the hottest day of 2017 with temperatures reaching as high as 31.9C in the South East.

The tinder-dry conditions caused high risk of grass and undergrowth fires in other parts on the county that day.

For example 100 square metres of open space went up on flames both in Dartford and Sittingbourne.