KENT Police say a blaze at a block of flats may have been started deliberately.

Six fire engines were called to Canal Road, Strood, at around 9.30pm on Saturday. The ground-floor flat, used as homeless shelter, was severely damaged.

The rest of the building was damaged by smoke. Crews took about 40 minutes to bring the fire under control.

Police have confirmed it is being treated as suspicious. A Strood Fire Station spokesman said: “The flat is unoccupied but is used by homeless people for shelter.

“We had reports that some were still inside at the time of the fire but there was only one person, who got out unharmed.”

Fire crews from the Strood, Medway and Thames-side stations attended.