A pensioner's house was left scorched after bin bags were set alight in suspected arson attacks.

Fire crews were called to Denmark Road after neighbours heard noises at night and were woken by a "huge bang".

One, who did not wish to be named, said: "My husband and I went to bed at 11.20pm. As we were settling down we heard the usual - voices, skateboards, and cars passing.

"Shortly after we heard the bins rustling and we automatically thought 'oh great, foxes'. I came down to scare them away so the street wouldn't be covered with refuse and noticed that the seagull-proof bags outside my house were alight.

"As I turned my head to the right I then noticed that my elderly neighbour's bag was also alight.

"At that moment there was a huge bang as things started flying and exploding onto the street, hitting our car. It has burned the outside of our elderly neighbour's house.

"Other neighbours started to come out of their homes to try their best to help, bringing fire extinguishers and buckets of water."

Fire crews arrived at the scene and quickly put out the blaze, but discovered bags in surrounding streets had also been targeted.

The neighbour said: "After a supportive clean up we are now left with no refuse collection bags and the elderly gentleman has scorch marks up his house wall and cannot get to the council offices in Margate. This street has always been so quiet and now this has happened to families and elderly residents."

Police are investigating last Thursday's fires.