£1m blaze hits poker firm

Poker equipment worth an estimated £1m has been destroyed following a fire on an industrial estate in Paddock Wood.

Six fire engines were called to Alpha Logistics in Eldon Way in the early hours Monday.

People living close by were urged to keep doors and windows closed.

Chris Page has owned the unit for eight years, storing equipment for live poker tournaments.

He said: “I’m gutted. Eight years I’ve been in there and I was just about to renew for a further three years.

“There’s not an awful lot left, the heat was very intense, all the metal racking has buckled, the roof has gone so it’s not looking good.

“They said the heat was so intense they will probably never get to the bottom of it.

“I was in there at half seven last night, I know there was nothing left on and just didn’t expect this this morning.”

It is understood to have been the second fire on Eldon Way in just four weeks, after crews were previously called to British Car Auctions.

Some train services were disrupted when stock was held back at Southeastern’s Tonbridge depot.

Investigators are trying to establish the cause. A carer has been cleared of an allegation that she stole from an elderly client.

Lesley Glover, 45, of West Park Road, Maidstone, had visited George Kemp, 93, who has since died, at his home in Claygate, Maidstone, one morning in February last year. Later that day, Mr Kemp’s daughter Stella found £70 Mr Kemp had given her to do his shopping was missing from her handbag and she accused Mrs Glover of taking it.

However, Maidstone Magistrates Court heard Miss Kemp did not discover the money was missing until she had finished the shopping in Morrisons over an hour later.

They also learned that Mrs Glover had not been alone with the bag but that Mr Kemp had been in the room with her at all times.

Mrs Glover categorically denied taking the money. She had in fact returned to the house at noon for Mr Kemp’s second care visit unaware that anything was wrong.

Magistrates said Mrs Glover had given “clear, credible evidence with no inconsistencies” and found her not guilty.