A 17-year-old youth arrested in connection with a fire at a post office has been released on police bail pending further inquiries.

The arrest followed a fire in the early hours of Tuesday morning at Tovil Newsagents and Post Office in Church Street, Tovil, Maidstone, which police say was an arson attack.

Shopkeeper Sarath Vigneswaran, his wife and two children aged seven and 13, knotted saris together and hung them out of the window before clambering down to safety.

The family did not want to speak publicly about the incident, and are currently staying in bed and breakfast accommodation. They have been running the shop for four months.

Although detectives are treating the incident as arson they do not believe it was racially motivated.

The owner of the shop and postmaster, Kanagasundaram Prince, went straight to the scene from his home in Alma Place, Strood, as soon as he heard what had happened.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Maidstone police station on 01622 604283 or call Kent Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.