An investigation has been launched after a suspected arson attack at a house in Rochester last night.

Firefighters were called out to the home in Cecil Road, at about 8.15pm after someone got into the house and apparently set it on fire.

It is understood when crews from Medway arrived they found the front door had been forced open and a fire had been started deliberately inside at the back of the ground floor of the property.

Two teams of firefighters used breathing apparatus to enter the house and fight the blaze which was well alight when they arrived at the property.

Police were also called to the scene about 10 minutes after firefighters began fighting the flames and after putting out the blaze, officers cordoned off the scene and began an investigation.

A spokesman for Kent Police said detectives were due to meet fire investigators at the house to go over the crime scene and that forensic officers were also due at the scene.

It is understood no one was injured during the incident and police have not yet made any arrests.

The police spokesman added: “This incident is being treated as arson and a criminal investigation has been launched.”

One neighbour said: "We were watching the fire engines when they arrived at about half eight and we didn't see any flames at all. There's been a police car there all night.

"There was loads of smoke, just no flames. They spent about twenty minutes looking around and then people went in with the breathing units and when they opened the windows loads of black smoke billowed out. We didn't have a clue what was going on really."