Arsonists are suspected of torching a derelict pub in Margate, prompting a six-crew response from firefighters.

Emergency services were called to the three-storey former Dane Valley pub shortly after six pm on Saturday night.

It took crews over an hour to bring the flames under control.

Firefighters wore oxygen masks to tackle the blaze.

A spokesman for Kent Fire and Rescue Services said:" At its height, six fire engines attended the scene and used a combination of hose reels, main jets, a cold cutting firefighting system and fog spikes to bring the fire under control."

The fire is thought to have started on the first floor and spread to the second floor of the building.

Crews also used an aerial appliance to assess the spread of the fire and also as a water tower.

The cause of the fire is believed to be deliberate. No one is reported as having been hurt in the incident.