Residents were forced to flee their homes as firefighters battled to contain a blaze in a block of flats.

Crews were called just after midday today, Monday, to the fire at Hendry House in Elmwood Road, Chattenden, following a suspected arson attack.

Watch manager Martin Simmons from Strood fire station said an unoccupied flat on the ground floor of the building was completely destroyed, while the windows and exterior of two flats above were also damaged.

Crews managed to extinguish the blaze in half an hour and prevent it from taking hold elsewhere in the building, and firefighters remained on site assisting police investigating the cause of the fire until around 4pm.

Around ten residents had to leave their homes during the incident.