A fire which damaged a large part of a gym in Gravesend, may have been started deliberately.

Firefighters from across North Kent were called out to the fitness centre in Terrace Street, in the town in the early hours of Saturday morning, and found the building well alight.

At the height of the flames more than 30 firefighters were at the scene fighting the blaze, which is thought to have started in the reception and shop area of the building.

Two appliances from Thames-side, along with two from Dartford, one from Strood and another from of Swanscombe were called to the scene at about 1.20am.

The gym, which also backs on to Queen Street, has been left with severe damage and crews used breathing apparatus to enter the building to fight the flames and managed to stop them spreading to nearby buildings.

A spokesman for Kent Fire and Rescue Service, said: "The shop and reception area has been destroyed by the flames the main gym area has also suffered a substantial amount of smoke damage.

"It was quite a big fire and took a couple of hours to bring under control.

"In all we were probably on the scene for about four hours as we spent quite a while damping down hot spots."

"An investigation into the cause of the fire has been started, but as yet we do not know it started, but it could be suspicious."