An international rescue effort has been launched between Britain, France and Belgium after a ship caught fire off the Kent coast.

It is understood the Grande Brasile, a 25-year-old cargo ship headed to Le Havre in France from Antwerp in Belgium, caught alight in waters east of Ramsgate at about 9.35am.

RNLI lifeboats from Dover and Ramsgate were called to the scene shortly before 10am but were stood down by midday, while a Dutch coastguard was also spotted in the area.

A French vessel with firefighting capabilities was also been drafted in to battle the blaze.

No injuries were reported

A HM Coastguard spokesman said it had been “coordinating the response to a cargo vessel which reported a fire within one deck in waters east of Ramsgate”.

“A fire reported within one deck of a cargo vessel 15 nautical miles south-east of Ramsgate has been contained,” said the spokesman.