DETECTIVES are searching for an arsonist after a street became a river of fire with fuel from burning vehicles igniting and flowing along the gutter.

Families were woken in the early hours to a nightmare as flames shot several feet into the air outside their homes in Sydenham Street, Whitstable.

Many dashed outside still in their night clothes to try and move their cars before the burning fuel could reach them. Six cars were destroyed or damaged but miraculously no one was hurt after the fire spread down the road.

It is thought to have started when a Ford Transit parked outside St Peter's Church was deliberately set alight at about 1am on Tuesday.

Kentish Gazette reporter Sian Napier's car was damaged in the incident. She said: "It was very frightening. I was woken up by crackling noises and when I looked out I could see the van on fire with flames under its bonnet and a long line of fire sweeping its way down the road.

"There was a lot of smoke and noise and six explosions in quick succession and when we heard those we thought it would be safer to go to the back of the house.

"The fire brigade came very quickly but the flames were so big I think they were worried it might catch one of the houses. They kept putting it out but it kept flaring back up again."

Police officers spent the night at the scene gathering evidence and the cars were removed later in the morning.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Canterbury Police on 01227 762055 or Crimestoppers free and confidential on 0800 555 111.