A man has been arrested after the front of a Co-op store was almost engulfed in flames with shoppers still inside.

Police were called to the suspected arson attack in Cheriton High Street, Folkestone, at around 6.45pm last Sunday (August 13).

KentOnline reported earlier this week how a hero takeaway owner rushed towards the fire, armed with an extinguisher as passersby panicked.

Following an investigation, a 41-year-old man from Folkestone was arrested on suspicion of arson this morning.

He was also arrested on suspicion of assaulting a man in the store shortly after the incident.

A video of the incident captured by an eyewitness showed flames across the front of the store, stretching from the far side of the building to the main entrance.

The owner of the nearby Indian takeaway Clay Oven, Mafabbir Ali, is then seen rushing to the blaze with his fire extinguisher.

No injuries were reported.

The man has been taken into custody and enquiries are ongoing.