Police are today still on the hunt for an arsonist after a suspicious fire tore through a former school house in Maidstone town centre.

Six fire engines and a height vehicle were sent to the building in Brewer Street, just behind Week Street. The building was well alight when crews arrived at about 2.40pm yesterday.

They used breathing apparatus, a main and hose reel jet, as well as new fog spike equipment to help prevent the fire from spreading.

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At its height around 30 firefighters were involved in the operation.

Week Street was cordoned off for a short stretch between Brewer Street and Station Road and some businesses were forced to close.

At 4pm, the blaze had been brought under control with some crews remaining at the scene, damping down. The building, which is about 10m by 30m, has been severely damaged.

Firefighters had left by 5pm.

Police are investigating the fire, which is being treated as suspicious. No arrests have yet been made.

A force spokesman said it had not been necessary to evacuate the area.

The building was previously used used as a school house by St Francis Catholic Primary School before it moved to new premises more than a decade ago.

It was last used as a youth club for the church but that too moved, to St Simon Stock Catholic School, when the building was condemned in March this year.

It is understood the building was due to be knocked down and redeveloped, and was often a target for break-ins, despite the church's efforts to keep it locked and secure.

Jason Howard, owner of nearby second-hand shop Trash and Treasure, was assessing the cost of lost trade while the store was closed, and potential smoke damage.

He said: "If it had happened at night this would all be gone. We've had kids in that building before smashing windows, we need it boarded up."

Hair stylists Katie Arnold, 25, and Laura Haylor, 26, work in Utopia, opposite the scene of the fire.

Miss Haylor told the Kent Messenger: "Suddenly we heard lots of sirens and there were two fire engines that went down Union Street and two stopped over the road.

"There were firemen running everywhere. The businesses have stayed open but the staff from Mu Mu were standing outside and it looked like they were being evacuated.

"Everyone in The Society Rooms got up and left to have a look."

Miss Arnold said: "I could smell smoke earlier today but I just thought someone was having a BBQ. We just hope no one was hurt and that the building was empty at the time."

Officers are treating the incident as suspicious and are asking anybody with information to call 101 quoting crime reference YY/19335/15.

In June a business at the other end of Week Street was destroyed in an arson attack.

The Works bookshop was burned down in a fire which spread to several neighbouring shops and is thought to have cost in the region of £5 million of damage.

Adam Stajer, 21, of Lower Stone Street, was charged following the offence and is awaiting court proceedings.