A business owner has praised the response of the removal company "family" having being overwhelmed with offers to help after losing thousands of pounds of goods and assets in a suspected arson attack.

Two fire engines were called to Rectory Farm, off Sutton Road, Sutton Valence just before 8.30pm on Monday, after a van, a lorry and a storage unit were set alight.

The vehicles and container were owned by Weald Removals, which rents part of the site, and had stored items belonging to a family it was helping to move house.

Business owner Luke Petty said the destruction of the vehicles and its contents is set to cost his firm as much as £30,000, but says he has been inundated with offers to help from colleagues across the country.

The 28-year-old, of Sutton Road, said: “The last few days have been a bit of a blur.

“I was meant to go on holiday to Fuerteventura on Sunday but I’ve had to cancel - I can’t go away when everything is like this.

"I managed to arrange to borrow a vehicle at 1am to help someone who was moving house the next day - I've still got contracts to fill.

"Another removal company called Move Assured have stepped in to help and they've been absolutely fantastic, as have Heslops Removals from Milton Keynes.

"I've had so many offers to help, even one guy offered to come down from Scotland, these companies have really come into their own.

"It's like a big family, if someone's had some bad luck, everyone is there ready to help each other out.

"Ultimately, people have still got to move house - if I don't turn up with a vehicle, the whole chain collapses and it would cost hundreds of thousands of pounds."

The blaze was eventually brought under control at about 10pm on Monday and Kent Police have since launched an investigation.

A spokesperson said: “Officers are treating the fires as suspicious and are asking anyone with information that may help the investigation to call 01622 604100 quoting crime reference 46/18706/19.”

Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers in Kent, anonymously, on 0800 555111.