Arsonists are thought to be responsible for setting alight a former riding school in Gillingham yesterday afternoon.

Firefighters were called out to the former Matthews Equestrian Centre in Lower Rainham Road, shortly before 5pm after a fire broke out in the roof area.

Crews used safe access gear and ladders to get near to the flames in the roof joints to fight them and removed tiles from the roof to expose smouldering areas.

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A spokesman for Kent Fire and Rescue Service, said: “Crews used a thermal imaging camera to check the fire was fully out.”

Crews and say they believe the fire was started deliberately and they were on the scene for about an hour.

It is not the first time the building has gone up in flames.

VIDEO: "It's only a matter of time before someone gets seriously hurt", says neighbour Angela Wallace.

In August 2009, another deliberate fire destroyed part of the roof of the building.

Firefighters from Medway fire station and a water-tender from Larkfield went to the empty equestrian centre at Walnut Tree Farm, at about 2pm on Wednesday, August 12.

At the time, crews found the building well alight and later police sent forensic officers to the scene.