MORE than 13 people were left homeless in Kington on Tuesday when the biggest fire in living memory engulfed flats and spread to a nearby bank.

Clouds of black smoke billowed across High Street and Cross Street as fire crews from as far as Droitwich and Malvern battled the blaze throughout the afternoon.

The fire was started during maintenance work to Marches Housing Association flats in Cross Street before spreading to the roof of Barclays Bank.

Police said the town centre would be closed until further notice, due to damage caused to the roof of the Victorian building.

Council contractors had been using a gas heater to lay felt and pitch to it when wood overheated, said leader of Herefordshire Council and Kington councillor Terry James.

It was neighbour Carol Hancocks who raised the alarm just before 1pm when a workman told her he could smell burning.

"I think there may have been some explosions - tiles were blowing like wild things off the roof. I didn't see the flames until the fire brigade arrived," she said.

Neighbours were concerned for the welfare of pensioner Trevor Price who lives at the bottom of the two-storey flats adjoining Barclays and KC3.

Mr Price, who is recovering from a hip operation, stood on crutches as he surveyed the wreckage of his home where he had medication and valuables.

Kington's Royal Oak Hotel put up many of the homeless.

Other people went to stay with relatives.

Newsagents, Peter and Margaret Ashborn, at Kings News in Bridge Street were having a sandwich break in the back of the shop when a customer said the bank was on fire.

"We saw flames coming across the roof of the building and could hear the engines rumbling as they pumped water - they are like tinder boxes these buildings."

The drama escalated as fire crews began to arrive from all over the county and flames grew to a height that could be seen from the main road.

Fire fighters from Kington, Eardisley, Leominster and Hereford were first at the scene.