A man has been charged with arson after bins at a hospital were set on fire.

Luke French was arrested by police after the blaze, which broke out near medical equipment, was discovered at Medway Maritime Hospital in Gillingham on Wednesday evening.

The 28-year-old, of Peregrine Drive, Sittingbourne was charged with arson with intent to endanger life.

He was also charged with arson after a bin was torched in Rope Walk, Chatham, on the same evening.

French was remanded in custody and appeared at Medway Magistrates' Court on Friday.

Deputy chief executive at Medway NHS Foundation Trust James Devine said: "Arson is a very serious crime and when it takes place at a hospital it can be extremely dangerous.

"I am pleased that our fire safety team reacted quickly and our procedures for dealing with rare issues such as this worked effectively."