Police are hunting a suspected arsonist who put lives at risk when he set fire to gas meters outside homes.

The man sat on the ground near a wooden cupboard containing six meters, playing with a lighter, before torching it, walking away and then taking a glance back before disappearing.

Emmanuel Eke and his daughter Elizabeth told of the terrifying moment they realised what was happening outside her home in Kent Road, Dartford.

They dashed to put out the spreading flames with kettles of water.

She said: "It was scary. Dad was telling me to stand back because he wasn’t sure if it would explode."

Detectives have issued an e-fit of the man they would like to question.

Mr Eke was visiting Elizabeth and his other daughter Naomi, with his wife and four other children when the drama unfolded on Saturday.

Elizabeth, 22, said: "Dad was watching all the people going into the nightclub, Air and Breathe. He saw a man standing next to the wooden gas cupboard but he just thought he was a party-goer putting something in the bins out the front.

"Then he noticed the man was taking far too long. He had been there for five minutes, and he sat down and had a lighter and kept lighting it up. He set fire to something and walked off before looking back.

"It was scary. Dad was telling me to stand back because he wasn't sure if it would explode" - Elizabeth Eke

"Dad rushed outside and I went with him. The cupboard was closed but we could see flames inside. We saw the fire was spreading.

"I went back to get a kettle of water – we thought the whole thing was going to go up in flames."

Miss Eke said she kept going inside to get more water in an attempt to put out the flames.

"It was scary," she said. "Dad was telling me to stand back because he wasn’t sure if it would explode.

"Dad called the police and jumped in front of a police van as it was driving past."

Elizabeth said her dad had been by the window waiting for her sister Naomi to come back from work. She added: "When she came back we were being questioned by police."

Officers have released an e-fit of the man they want to speak to in connection with the alleged arson.

He is described as white, of medium build with fair hair. He was wearing a light blue top, jeans and white trainers. He was also carrying a black bag and is believed to have walked off in the direction of the Westgate car park.

DC Paul Oliver said: "Although no one was injured, setting fire to gas meters could clearly have resulted in serious injury to the occupants of surrounding properties.

"This incident happened late at night but we are hopeful someone may still have seen or heard something, or knows who is responsible. If you recognise the man in this image please get in touch."

Call the appeal line on 01474 366149 quoting reference XY/34806/16, or phone Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.