A man accused of starting a £5 million fire that destroyed a bookshop and ripped through adjoining shops in Maidstone town centre was refused bail this morning.

Danny Moore, defending, submitted at the town’s Crown Court that Adam Stajer, of Lower Stone Street, could be released on bail with conditions.

But Judge Charles Macdonald QC said the 21-year-old Slovakian - who was not present for the brief hearing - must stay in custody.

Stajer, who has lived in the UK for two years, has denied arson within intent to endanger life at The Works store in Week Street on June 8 and an alternative charge of arson being reckless as to whether life was endangered.

Prosecutor Donna East said when the plea was entered on July 3: “The figure I have for damage and consequential loss is in excess of £5 million.

“It was in the early hours of the morning. This was a large-scale fire. It took some time to subdue. It was in a pedestrianised area, although there was little pedestrian traffic.”

The fire was believed to have been started by rubbish being set alight outside the bookshop.

Stajer will return to court for a further hearing on September 18. A trial date has been set for November 30.

A large section of Week Street was cordoned off for several days after the blaze which was tackled by 90 firefighters at its height.