A man has been charged with arson after a blaze tore through a shop building and shut a road.

Emergency services were called to the fire that engulfed the upper floor of ABA Commercial Insurance in Pelham Road South, Northfleet, Gravesend, near Perry Street, at around 5.30am on Monday.

David Daisley, 51, was arrested on the same day and has been charged with arson with intent.

He was also charged with racial or religiously aggravated assault relating to a separate incident on March 21 in Gravesend.

The 51-year-old, who lives in Pelham Road South, was remanded in custody to appear before Medway Magistrates' Court tomorrow.

Meherl Ali, 63, of Pelham Road, described the scale of the blaze.

The scene after the fire

He said: “It was a big one, and there was loads of smoke coming out.

“My son rang the fire brigade as soon as he saw it and they were quite quick to get here - about 10 to 15 minutes.

“They seemed to struggle with it, it was that bad. It’s lucky no one was hurt.”

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