Firefighters left the scene of a massive blaze which gutted a town centre shop and damaged several others in Maidstone last night, but returned briefly to put out some smouldering embers.

The fire broke out in Week Street at 2.05am on Monday, and engulfed The Works bookshop. At its height, 90 firefighters tackled the blaze.

Work to douse down the scene were completed last night and Kent Fire and Rescue Services left the scene.

Firefighters returned to the scene this morning at 8.15am to extinguish a part of the roof which was still smouldering.

The exclusion zone is to be reduced to the buildings surrounding the scene - the now destroyed The Works building, and Thomson travel agents and Hotter shoe shop.

This is expected to be done by Friday so the street can be reopened.

Mothercare, the 3 store, T-Reds, County Cobbler and Mountain Warehouse all began trading today.

A notice in Lloyds Bank says it is closed until further notice due to smoke damage.

Maidstone council is to employ specialist contractors to put scaffolding around the three worst affected buildings, to shore up the fascias. The council is taking on the work on behalf of the owners to make sure it is done quickly.

A council spokesman said the shop fronts, which all date back to the 1960s, might contain asbestos, and the hoardings to be erected are a precautionary measure to protect the public.

The spokesman added: "It is hoped the work will be completed by the weekend."

It emerged earlier today that the blaze was spotted by chance by passing firefighters.

Smoke was seen coming from Week Street at 2.05am by a crew responding to a string of suspicious car fires who were taking on more water at the Mill Pond in Mill Street.

In total the fire service received seven calls about the blaze.

No one was injured but it is thought The Works may have to be completely demolished following the devastation.

The firefighters, just 45 minutes earlier, had been dealing with five car fires half a mile away in the Buckland Road and Somerfield Road area of the town.

Police are treating all the incidents as suspicious.

This morning workers in the town centre were still unable to get to their shops, with a cordon remaining in place from the end of Earl Street to Clarks Shoes and Lloyds Bank on Week Street.

The town's high street usually attracts up to 35,000 people a day, and the total insurance bill is expected to run into millions of pounds.

A 22-year-old Maidstone man was arrested in connection with all six fires yesterday morning, but was released without charge.

Police continue their search for the arsonist and the cause of the fire is still being investigated.

Area manager at Kent Fire and Rescue, Steve Jeffery, said it could be several days before the probe is completed.

Anyone with information is asked to phone Kent Police on 01732 379285, or call Kent Crimestoppers in confidence on 0800 555111.