Fires in Kent fell last year to their lowest level since records began.

Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) attended 6,359 fire calls, almost 14 per cent fewer than the previous year, and an 11 per cent improvement on the 7,202 target.

This is mainly due to a drop in deliberate fires.

It is the lowest number of calls to fires ever received by KFRS since electronic records began.

Rubbish and vehicle fires have seen the biggest reduction.

Kent and Medway Fire and Rescue Authority – which oversees the way KFRS is run - works with agencies on rubbish clear-up schemes to reduce potential sources of fuel for deliberate fire setting.

A recent advertising campaign warned of the dangers of setting fires to wheelie bins.

KMFRA also supports Operation Cubit, a scheme that deals with the collection and disposal of untaxed or abandoned vehicles. Since the partnership began in 2003, the number of deliberate vehicle fires attended by the Authority has halved.

KFRS Chief Fire Officer Bill Feeley said: "These fires represent a huge drain on our resources and we will continue our efforts to perpetuate the decrease we have worked so hard to achieve.”