A suspected arsonist has been charged after it was reported he went into a police station and set fire to the front desk.

The 35-year-old is said to have walked into the building, in Purser Way, Gillingham, on Monday (November 13) holding a jar of clear liquid, believed to be diesel.

It is alleged he poured it over the front counter before setting light to a rag and throwing it onto the desk, at around 4.40pm.

The man was then arrested and later charged with arson with recklessness as to whether life was endangered and assaulting an emergency worker.

Edward Midgley, from Chatham, appeared before Medway Magistrates’ Court yesterday (November 15).

He has been remanded pending a hearing at Maidstone Crown Court on Wednesday, December 13.