TWENTY firefighters were called to tackle an early morning blaze in a derelict building in a Kent town on Monday.

Flames are believed to have spread from a rubbish fire into the ground floor of the disused former judokwai hall in Lowfield Street, Dartford.

The fire quickly spread to the roof of the building as crews in breathing aparatus attempted to control the flames.

As crews battled the blaze, police cordoned off part of Central Park and the park access road from Lowfield Street.

Two crews from Dartford were initally called to the scene at 6.35am. They were joined by one pump from Thameside and one from Medway.

Retained fire crews from Horton Kirby and Swanscombe were called as standby.

One of the Dartford blue watch firefighters who fought the blaze, said: "There was a lot of rubbish piled up against the outside of the building."

Arson is suspected although no fire investigation has been launched.

Crews finally left the scene at 9.17am.