FIREFIGHTERS prevented what could have been a disastrous fire at the Territorial Army base in St Margaret's Street, Rochester, early on Sunday morning.

The fire, thought to have been started deliberately, broke out in the office of a building which housed six Land Rovers and two lorries.

Although the office was badly damaged, the firefighters’ quick response prevented flames spreading to the vehicles.

Police are investigating the incident, but on Sunday were unavailable to provide any information on how the fire was started.

The blaze was reported at around 4.30am. About two hours earlier there was another fire at the base in which a large waste bin had been pushed against the door of a building and set alight.

Bombs and shells made safe from previous operations, and used in training purposes, are thought to be housed in the building.

The St Margaret’s Street base is home to 221 Field Squadron of the City of London Royal Engineer Regiment, and specialises in bomb disposal.

Soldiers from the Squadron have recently been involved in tours of duty in Iraq, and have previously been deployed in Kosovo and Bosnia.