POLICE and fire chiefs are treating a large blaze at a furniture warehouse as suspicious.

The fire in the building in Dengemarsh Road, Lydd, near Hythe, is thought to have started at about 6am on Friday. The ferocity of the fire led to the building's collapse.

At its height, more than 90 firefighters from across the county, including Lydd, Dymchurch, New Romney, Hythe, Folkestone, Ashford, Aldington, Tonbridge, Tenterden, Sittingbourne, Larkfield and Canterbury, were at the site, together with colleagues from East Sussex.

East Division Area Manager Steve Griffiths said: "Propane cylinders were involved, which is always difficult. There were small explosions before we arrived.

"I understand it was a storage warehouse for new furniture awaiting delivery. It was a fierce fire which led to the building's collapse, but crews worked hard to contain it to one end of the structure, preventing any further damage."

Nearby houses were not affected by the incident.