Arsonists are thought to be responsible for setting a former cafe alight in Strood.

Police have launched an investigation after the building was torched at about 10pm last night.

Firefighters from Strood were called to put out the flames at the derelict site in Canal Road.

The building, which has been set alight before, has not been used for years and when the crew arrived on the scene, they found the blaze had been started in the stairwell of the building.

A spokesman for Kent Fire and Rescue Service said the crew spent about an hour fighting the flames.

A police spokesman added: “Kent Police was called at 10.03pm on Friday, October 14, to a report of a fire at a derelict building in Canal Road, Strood.

“Officers attended and arranged for the property to be boarded up and the fire is being treated as suspicious and inquiries are ongoing.”