An arsonist is thought to have set light to cars early today (Monday). Crews from Strood and Medway fire stations were called out four times during their shift, to put out three car fires and a bin which had also been set alight.

A crew from Strood was called out at about 1am to Church Street, Rochester, where they found a Peugeot 306 well alight. It took about an hour to put out the blaze.

Shortly afterwards, a crew from Medway fire station went to the Esplanade in Rochester where a Vauxhall Corsa was on fire. They spent about 20 minutes on the scene.

Then at about 3am the Strood team was called out for a second time to Cuxton Road, in the town, where they found a Citroen had been torched in an alleyway. The crew again took about an hour to bring the fire under control.

All three cars were destroyed by the blazes.

Before the end of their shift, the Strood crew was sent to put out a bin alight at the top of Shorts Way close to the junction of Borstal Street, Rochester.

A spokesman for Kent Fire and Rescue Service, said: "The bin was set alight at about 5am so we had a busy night."

Police have launched an investigation to find out if all four fires were started by the same person.