Police are at the scene of a house damaged by fire in a petrol bombing early today.

Forensic officers were called to Howard Road, Dartford, after the terraced property was gutted by smoke and flames in the early hours.

Fire crews were called at just after 2am to extinguish the flames. Kent Police officers were also called to close the road.

The front window has been smashed and the living room is clearly smoke damaged.

A Kent Police spokesman confirmed the house was petrol bombed.

A neighbour, who did not want to be named, said: "I've got a glass door so the lights from the fire engines and police woke me up.

"The window was smashed and I heard it was a petrol bomb that was thrown."

A police spokesman said officers were called to the address at 2.15am to reports of a an arson.