A man has been arrested after a suspicious house fire in Chatham.

Firefighters were called to a report of a carpet alight at a house in Luton Road just after 6.30pm yesterday.

A 38-year-old man from Chatham has been arrested and a single police car remained at the scene this morning. The front of the building has been taped off.

A spokesman for Kent Fire and Rescue Service said the fire started in a ground floor bedroom and two crews from the Medway station attended.

They used breathing apparatus to get in to the property, a hose reel to put out the flames and a ventilation fan to clear the smoke.

She said there were no reports of any injuries and a fire investigation team are at the scene.

A police spokesman said: "Kent Police was called by Kent Fire and Rescue Service to a fire at a property in Luton Road, Chatham, at 6.48pm.

"The fire is reported to be suspicious and a 38-year-old man from Chatham has been arrested in connection with the incident.

"There are no reports of any serious injuries and inquiries are ongoing."

Police officers and an ambulance crew were also called to a crash between a car and a small van in the road outside the house this morning.

Officers were directing vehicles around the incident and traffic built up along Luton Road.

An ambulance spokeswoman said they were called to a collision involving three vehicles at 8.20am. One person was taken to Medway Maritime Hospital but their injuries are unknown.