A DOG racing stadium with around 300 spectators had to be abandoned on Saturday (July 24) after a nearby grass fire sent smoke billowing across the track.
Crayford Greyhound Track in Stadium Way was hosting its morning meeting when the fire, in the nearby Hall Place sports field, started.
Eight fire engines and around 40 firefighters were called out to tackle the blaze which left around six hectares of grass, trees, undergrowth and 300 metres of railway embankment damaged.
Firefighters battled the fire from 12.56pm to 6.30pm.
The dog track’s marketing manager Diana Illingworth said the last four races of the meeting were abandoned at around 1pm.
Ms Illingworth said: “When the fire brigade turned up, they asked us to evacuate the building. That’s probably because the fire was near a pylon She added: “I think it’s happened once before but we’ve never been asked to evacuate.”
Fire crews from Bexley and surrounding stations attended the incident.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
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