New pictures reveal the extent of damage to an abandoned nightclub following a suspicious blaze.

Ten fire engines were called to the former Liquid nightclub in East Hill, Ashford, at about 11.15pm last night.

Residents living in the town centre and Mace Lane area were asked to keep their windows and doors closed due to the large amount of smoke.

It came just two weeks after nine fire engines attended another blaze at the site, which has been empty since 2014.

Developer Oliver Davis, who has owned the building since 2021, had planned to turn the landmark into 53 flats.

But he confirmed earlier this month how that is no longer happening as he has had more interest from commercial tenants than residential.

He said the unlisted building, which was built in 1901 as H.S. Pledge and Son flour mill, is still due to receive a long-overdue makeover as it will be turned into a “flexible office space”.

But fire crews have twice been called to the site since he made that announcement, with police and one fire engine remaining at the scene until about 7pm this evening.

The first incident in December started when a tree was set alight and spread to the building, but it remains unclear how last night’s blaze began.

The fire service said it is being treated as suspicious, but confirmed no one was hurt.

Mace Lane was initially closed in both directions as crews worked at the scene.

The site had been a selection of nightspots until 2014, with Liquid becoming the last name to occupy it.

Before Mr Davis snapped up the building, proposals had emerged in 2017 to turn the seven-storey site into a performing arts centre for Ashford School, complete with a 250-seat theatre and staff offices, but it never got off the ground.