A fire on one of Kent's beach fronts caused panic among visitors on Friday after a bin was destroyed.

Firefighters were called to the blaze in Beach Street, Sheerness, at around 8pm as black smoke billowed away from the beach wall, near the lifeguard hut.

Visitors look on as a bin fire rages on

Visitors were videoed running toward the flames to see if anyone was in danger before retreating to a safe distance.

Police were also called to the scene to attend and no injuries were reported.

Paula Fagg witnessed the blaze from her window.

The carer said: "It was a large bin used for recycling plastic which was on fire.

"I walked down there after and luckily there was no other damage except for the tall information sign."

The fire service left the scene after 15 minutes with the police taking the lead on the investigation.

A spokesman for the force said: "Kent Police was called at 7.56pm on Friday to a report of a bin fire on the seafront near Beach Street, Sheerness.

"Officers attended along with Kent Fire and Rescue Service. No injuries were reported. The fire was treated as suspicious.

"Officers exhausted all lines of enquiry and no suspects were identified."

'This is a disgraceful act of vandalism...'

Queenborough and Kent County Councillor Cameron Beart slammed whoever was behind the blaze.

He said: "This is a disgraceful act of vandalism on one of our multi award winning beaches.

"Probably the same idiots, or those of the same mentality, who vandalised the RNLI hut nearby the other year."

"If anyone knows any details, please report to the police. Hopefully the CCTV cameras in the area caught them."

A spokesman for the fire service said: "Kent Fire and Rescue Service was called to the scene of a fire affecting some safety equipment items on Beach Street in Sheerness.

"One fire engine was in attendance and crews used a hose reel jet to extinguish the flames.

"No casualties were reported. Officers from Kent Police were also in attendance."

Swale council has said the information post could cost around £500 to replace.

Anyone with information can call Kent Police on 01795 419119 quoting reference 46/110342/21.

Read more: All the latest news from Sheerness