FIREFIGHTERS who tackled a huge blaze in the heart of Gravesend today fear a four-storey building could now collapse (Jon Kaila writes).

The bottom of the High Street area has been cordoned off to protect workers, residents and shoppers who were evacuated after flames engulfed the disused building in the Heritage Quarter.

About 50 firefighters from all over North Kent were deployed to tackle the huge inferno which threatened to engulf neighbouring properties.

Heavy thick-black palls of smoke could be seen across the Thames and motorists reported seeing the smoke billowing across the A2.

A builder working in flats next door to the building alerted the fire brigade to the blaze after he saw flames from the rooftop at about 10am. Although the fire has now been brought under control, firefighters do not want to enter the building because they fear it could collapse on top of them.

It is being supported by scaffolding and netting.

Leading Firefighter Andy Merryman said: "The fire was very severe indeed. It has damaged all four floors of the building, the roof, a separate annex at the back of the building and part of the adjoining premises.

"Because of the severity of the fire a building control investigating team are currently seeing whether or not the building is safe to enter.

"There is a risk at the moment that the building could collapse. We are therefore not letting anyone back into the buildings at the bottom of the High Street.

Site Foreman Graham Halliday Saddler, who contacted the fire brigade, said: "We were working in the flats next door. My electrician smelt burning so I went upstairs to the skylight to see if I could see anything.

"I got onto the roof and there were flames leaping from the building next door. There was so much thick smoke. I phoned the fire brigade straight away and they arrived within minutes."

It is not known how the fire started and firefighters cannot investigate the cause until they can enter the building.