The diner on the A2 just outside Canterbury torched by a disgruntled employee is to go under the auctioneer’s hammer.

Formerly Mickey’s Diner and the Little Chef, the building on the coastbound side of the road at Upper Harbledown is today little more than a burnt-out shell.

Faversham man Daniel Freeman, 24, set fire to it in July 2011 as revenge against his boss who had promoted him and given him extra responsibilities.

He caused damage worth £180,000 and was jailed for five years after admitting arson and stealing £800 from the business.

Property auctioneers Clive Emson have given the diner a guide price of £165,000 to £175,000.

The freehold site comes with 34 parking spaces and has planning permission for a 29-bedroom hotel and restaurant.

Auctioneer Kevin Gilbert said: “The site is well known to a lot of people in the area and we anticipate interest from developers in the site, especially with the conditional planning permission in place for a hotel and restaurant, with demolition of the current building.”

Elsewhere, the former Sturry fire station at High Street, Sturry, surplus to requirements and “with redevelopment potential”, has a freehold guide of £100-110,000.

The auction takes place at the Kent County Showground in Detling at 11am on Monday, February 4.