Arsonists are thought to be responsible for a fire which tore through a derelict college last night.

Around 50 firefighters spent around five hours tackling the flames at the former MidKent College campus in Rochester.

Crews from Medway, Strood, Chatham, Gillingham, Hoo and Larkfield, Thames-side and Canterbury were called out to the site in City Way, at about 7pm and found the building well alight.

Crews used breathing apparatus to enter the college to tackle the blaze which destroyed the building.

The site is being demolished after the college moved to another site in Gillingham.

A Kent Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said: “The building is destroyed it’s a very dangerous site now.

“There were black plumes of smoke and flames billowing across Medway and we were worried there might be asbestos burning within the building so we asked the police to speak to residents down wind of smoke to they could keep their windows closed.

“We didn’t leave the site until about midnight.”