A hand-written notice has appeared on the Players gentlemen's club in Maidstone High Street promising the premises will re-open on Monday after a "small fire".

An incident at the club yesterday afternoon led police to close off the lower end of Maidstone High Street near the bridge over the River Medway while police and fire services attended a suspected arson attack.

The road was sealed off by police just after 1pm with buses diverted via Mill Street during the closure. Police searched the pavement on both sides of the High Street before allowing traffic and pedestrians back through about two hours later.

Initially two fire engines were in attendance and six police vehicles.

A police spokesman said: "We were called just after 1pm to Players in Maidstone High Street, after reports of an arson attack.

"Kent Fire and Rescue Service and police officers attended the scene and a fire at the premises was extinguished.

"No injuries have been reported. As part of their inquiries, officers have arrested a 42-year-old man on the A20 near Ashford.

"He remains in police custody and investigations are on-going."

The man is believed to have been on a bridge over the M20 when the arrest was made and the M20 was temporarily closed for a short period while officers made the arrest.

A spokesman for Kent Fire and Rescue said: "We attended a fire on the first floor of the building and crews used breathing apparatus and hose reels to put it out.

"In terms of fire-fighting it was not too challenging, and the crews were ready to leave the scene after 45 minutes, but we have asked our fire investigation unit to look at the cause of the blaze."

A few officers and a fire investigation unit remained at the scene throughout the afternoon.