Police have launched an investigation after a fire at a flat in Margate in which a child and two people were rescued from.

Emergency services dealt with the blaze in the early hours of the morning but police confirmed this afternoon they are treating the incident as suspicious.

An investigation into a suspected arson attack is now under way after it was found the fire was started in an empty flat in the building in Trinity Square.

The area was sealed off around the square throughout the early hours as firefighters set up a cordon when it broke out shortly after 4.30am.

A police spokesman said nobody was injured and everyone had been accounted for.

The fire service confirmed the child and two adults were taken from the building using a seven metre ladder.

Four fire engines were sent to the scene but left the area just before 7am.

A police spokesman said: "The fire was started in an empty flat and is being treated as suspicious. Police have launched an investigation.

"Anyone with information is asked to contact Kent Police [calling 101] quoting incident number 02-293."