A woman who put lives in danger when she set fire to a terraced house in Swanscombe she had been evicted from has been detained under the Mental Health Act.

Clare Bushby, a paranoid schizophrenic, will be held at the Trevor Gibbens Unit at Maidstone Hospital without limit of time.

Maidstone Crown Court heard the 43-year-old had been evicted from the property in Craylands Lane about eight weeks before she started the major fire on May 22.

Prosecutor Ian Foinette said it happened against a background of troubling behaviour noticed by neighbours and those at the nearby Rising Sun pub.

Events culminated on Sunday afternoon, May 22, when witnesses saw smoke begin to billow from the building before one of the windows exploded.

Bushby, who had previously been going in and out of the house, was seen on the flat roof outside. When she climbed down and was asked why she did it, she replied she did not know.

Mr Foinette said there was severe damage to the front and rear bedrooms and the roof.

Bushby, who admitted arson with intent to endanger life, had set fire to items inside. “It spread fairly rapidly,” said Mr Foinette. “There was concern for a young family living next door.”

Judge Adele Williams told Bushby, who was escorted in the dock by nurses: “You put people at considerable risk as there were other occupants in the vicinity.”

The judge said of the hospital order: “I am satisfied that with your mental history and the risk of committing further offences it is necessary for the protection of the public from serious harm.”

It was revealed at the time that about 15 people from the pub and 10 from adjoining houses were evacuated while firefighters tackled the blaze.

Three fire engines were used to fight the blaze for almost two hours.

Karen Lee, 43, who was on duty at the nearby Swanscombe Leisure Centre at the time, said: “We saw loads of people gathering and at first we thought it was a fight outside the pub.

“Then we noticed the smoke from the back of the house. We went out and had a look and the house was on fire.”

One witness said: “We saw a woman jump out of the bedroom window on the first floor.”