A KENT fire chief has issued a chilling warning to people in the county who deliberately start field fires.

Station commander John Webb spoke out after six engines and crews from around east Kent had fought one grass fire at Faversham and incidents at Thanington and Strood needed a similar response.

Mr Webb, station commander at Faversham, said: "Somebody could have been killed because of a stupid, malicious acts.

"People think, 'it's only a grass fire,' but the last firefighter who died in action in Kent, Neville Stocker, died in a field fire in High Halden in 1990."

He stressed: "Parents have got a responsibility for their children. They may think it's sport but I assure you somebody will die because of this nonsense."

Speaking about the blaze at Faversham, he added: "If we find out who did this we will certainly prosecute."