POLICE and fire investigation officers believe that arsonists were responsible for a blaze at business premises in a town centre.

The emergency services were called to the Hyland Beauty and Slimming Clinic in Gabriels Hill, Maidstone, just after midnight on Monday. Flames had been seen belching from the first-floor windows.

Two pumps from Maidstone attended initially, but they soon had to be supported by a further tender from Larkfield, another from Medway and a command support unit.

The firefighters had to use hydraulic-cutting equipment to force their way into the premises to tackle the flames, and they also had to break into the Cravings sandwich bar, located on the ground floor underneath the seat of the fire.

It wasn’t until a height vehicle arrived that crews using breathing apparatus were able to bring the flames under control.

Nobody was in either building at the time.

The beauty salon suffered about 50 per cent fire damage on the first floor, and the rest of the building was badly damaged by smoke and heat.

Police would like to hear from anyone with information about the blaze. Call 01622 604180.