Police are investigating a fire that ripped through a maisonette.

The blaze broke out just after 12.30am at Kilndown Close, Stanhope on Thursday.

It destroyed 90 per cent of the first floor of the derelict two-storey maisonette.

Four fire engines, two from the Ashford station and one each from Charing and Aldington, were called and crews were at the scene for an hour.

Kent Fire and Rescue Service are treating the blaze as suspicious and police say they are probing to find out whether it was started deliberately.

The maisonette is within a five-storey block of flats but nobody was injured.

South Kent Police want any witnesses to contact them on 01303 289180.