A man has been charged with attempted murder and arson after two people were injured when a blaze gutted a home.

Emergency services were called and two people were taken to hospital following the fire that destroyed one house and damaged three more in in St Mary’s Road, Faversham, at around 4am on Thursday.

Duncan Hornby, 59, was arrested the following day and has since been charged with two counts of attempted murder and arson with intent to endanger life.

The 59-year-old is suspected of setting the fire the destroyed the residential property and injured two of its occupants.

Following the fire, people living close-by told a KentOnline reporter how they have felt “shell-shocked” in the wake of the aftermath.

The house has now been demolished and another three neighbouring homes currently require scaffolding.

Hornby appeared at Maidstone Crown Court today before being remanded in custody until his next hearing on August 7.

Yesterday a police spokesman said: “The cause of the fire is currently unknown and remains under investigation, however it is being treated as suspicious.”

Officers are appealing to anyone who has any information, or CCTV, doorbell or dashcam footage from the area, to call 01634 792209, quoting reference 06-0165.