Arson is being blamed for a massive blaze which tore through a storage unit in Cliftonville last night.

Firefighters were called to the four-storey building in Northdown Road close to the junction with Laleham Gardens at just after 10pm on Friday.

Crews found smoke billowing from a second floor window and at first feared people were trapped in the building’s living quarters.

They were later accounted for.

Firefighters used a positive pressure ventilation fan to drive smoke and fumes from the rooms a hose reel jet to extinguish flames and dampen down hotspots.

The Kent Fire and Rescue Service said: “There are no reports of any injuries and the cause is thought to be deliberate ignition.

“Kent Police has been notified and patrols are in attendance.”