A dance school has been left scarred by fire damage three months after it first opened.

The Warmlake Dance Academy, in Sutton Valence, caught fire at around 9pm last night while no one was in the building – but things could have been much worse.

It is believed the fire was caused by an electrical fault in a fusebox, but the fire service is still investigating.

Dance coordinator Hannah Mason thought she could smell smoke as she taught a children’s dance class on Saturday morning but couldn't see any evidence of a fire.

Miss Mason left the academy, in the Warmlake Business Estate off the Maidstone Road, with her mother Lorraine at 3.30pm and around six hours later the building was well alight.

Lorraine Mason, who lives next door to the academy and is the academy's director, said: “It was my daughter and her partner Craig Holes’ dream and it’s absolutely gutting for them.”

“It’s a new business for us and it really was going very well. We are absolutely heartbroken and we have got to pick ourselves up and brush ourselves down.

“The front studio has got some soot damage and the back studio will be a major clean up operation.

“The reception and kitchen area got the worst of it. We have got a lot of work to do today.

“We are just going to start the clean up operation now. I would like to say that we are still open and will remain open as normal.

“My daughter’s boyfriend spotted it if he was coming into our drive. I think if it had been another 10 minutes it would have a very different scenario.

“The fire brigade did an absolutely stunning job.”

Four fire engines were sent and crews remained at the scene until 11.45. The fire service told KentOnline that three young men were treated for smoke inhalation.

The dance school, in the Warmlake Business Estate off the Maidstone Road, officially opened in September.