A man has been charged after a fire was started outside a high street supermarket while shoppers were still inside.

Footage showed the moment a hero takeaway owner rushed to extinguish the flames outside the Co-Op in Cheriton, near Folkestone.

The blaze on the evening of Sunday, August 13 resulted in a police investigation, eventually leading to an arrest on Friday, August 18.

Shaun Brocklehurst was later charged with arson and attempted robbery.

The 41-year-old, of Phillip Road in Folkestone, appeared at Folkestone Magistrates’ Court on Saturday, August 19 where he was remanded in custody.

He is next due to appear at Canterbury Crown Court on Monday, September 18.

Video from the scene captured by an eyewitness shows flames across the front of the store, stretching from the far side of the building to the main entrance.

Then, the owner of the nearby Indian takeaway Clay Oven can be seen rushing to the blaze with his fire extinguisher.

Mafabbir Ali quickly worked to douse the flames as people in the street looked on.

No injuries were reported.