FIREFIGHTERS battled to save a social club in Canterbury early today after a severe blaze broke out. Twenty crew members tackled the fire at the Sturry Road Social Club in East Street.

The firefighters, some wearing breathing apparatus, entered the single-storey building and managed to stop the flames at one end from spreading the entire 50m length of the club.

Sub Officer John Saynor, commander of the first of the four engines, said: "When we arrived flames were leaping from one end of the building and I instructed my crews to wear breathing apparatus and enter the building.

"We managed to stop the fire from spreading and have used thermal image cameras in the roof space to ensure that it did not spread."

A joint police and fire brigade is looking into the cause.The fire broke out at 3.20am and was under control at 4.28am.