A boy has been arrested on suspicion of arson in connection with a huge blaze in Sheerness that left two people fighting for their lives.

The 15-year-old, from Sheerness, has now been released on police bail pending further inquiries.

It comes after a fireball erupted at the former Glass House building in Marine Parade on Monday afternoon.

Fire spread through the roof of the building in Marine Parade, at the corner of Richmond Street, at around 3.30pm.

Two people who fell from the top floor of the four-storey building were airlifted to London hospitals. They remain in hospital with 'life-changing' injuries.

A further three others managed to flee the flames seen gripping the burning building.

A man was rescued by firefighters using a ladder, before being treated for breathing in smoke, and heroic members of the public saved mother Sam Hicks and her young children with a ladder at the back of the building.

Police are linking the fire on Monday with a shed blaze just round the corner last night.

It happened in Alma Road, Sheerness, at about 7.30pm, and it is thought both were started deliberately.

Meanwhile, Sheppey's new police inspector Tony Cannon has moved to reassure residents that police are doing everything in their power to catch those responsible.

He said the people remain in hospital with 'life-changing' injuries and are still in a critcal but stable condition.

He said: "I'm aware there may be some concern in the community about historic fires and arsons which go back about five years.

"They are not linked at this stage, but major crime will be formally reviewing those incidents.

"We are treating it seriously, we have made an arrest."

He also wanted to reassure people that it wasn't the case an individual was targeted, rather that it was an insecure doorway to a communal hall.

They are also still appealing for witnesses. "Someone in the community will probably know who these people are," he said.

A Kent Police spokesman said they are treating the Alma Road fire last night and the Marine Parade fire on Monday as linked until they receive any information suggesting otherwise.

Witnesses or anyone with information is asked to phone police on 101.