​SCORES of stranded shoppers watched in horror as fire crippled a fast food restaurant in Broadstairs.

Large, black plumes of smoke bellowed out of the steel roof of Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) in Westwood Road on Saturday morning.

Police closed the road in both directions as fire fighters jetted gallons of water at the roof. People were left holding bags of shopping unable to leave the supermarket until the police re-opened the road. A fire fighter said the fire started in the roof and as temperatures soared large cracks appeared in the brick walls around the building.

KFC assistant manager Chandiran Sandanan evacuated the restaurant at 8.45am. He said: “I don’t know how it started but it is surprising it is in the roof. It’s sad to see it burning down because I’ve worked here for six years and it’s a very successful restaurant – I hope they rebuild it.”

Firefighters used specialised lifting equipment to help them tear a hole in the roof to gain access to the fire. Mr Sandanan added: “The only thing in the roof is an electrical box.” A fire investigation team is looking into the cause of the fire. No one was injured in the fire.