Campaigners say the fire at an old cinema was only "a matter of time."

They are now reinforcing their call to have the building, derelict for 13 years, to be re-used.

Police are investigating yesterday's blaze at the Regent, in Victoria Parade, Deal.

Fay Franklin, chairman of Reopen the Regent, told KentOnline: "We shares the horror and disgust of the people of Deal at the fire in our iconic seafront building.

"We, like the hundreds of voices raised in the town and on social media yesterday and today, agree that this was only a matter of time in coming, and are hugely relieved that it was not a lot worse.

" Our thanks go to the wonderful Kent Fire and Rescue Service teams for acting so swiftly to bring the fire under control.

"It’s time to save The Regent once and for all - this cannot be allowed to happen again. Next time, it will be too late.

"Time to turn over The Regent to someone who will give Deal the cinema it so richly deserves. "

The flames erupted just before 5pm yesterday.

A total four fire engines were needed and it was initially feared somebody may be trapped inside.

A Kent Police spokesman said: "Officers assisted KFRS at the scene.

"The incident is being treated as suspicious and inquiries are ongoing."

"The 999 call suggested people may be inside..."

Firefighters was called out at 4.53pm and were at the scene for nearly three hours, following reports someone was inside.

However, no casualties were found.

A KFRS spokesman said: "Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus were committed to search the building as the 999 call suggested that people may be inside.

"Crews located a small fire which they put out with a high-pressure hose before clearing smoke and fumes from the premises with a large fan.

"No casualties were found, and no injuries were reported.

"The cause of the fire is being investigated by Kent Police and our fire investigation team due to suspected deliberate ignition."

A KFRS height vehicle was also called for but was not needed in the end.

Just last month around 200 members of Reopen the Regent demonstrated outside the venue to pressurise owners James Wallace and Mark Digweed into re-converting the Art Deco building into a cinema.

At present the town does not have one at all.

It was their second protest in six months, following a Halloween-themed demonstration in October involving up to 200 people.

Mr Wallace and Mr Digweed were granted planning permission to reopen the cinema in July 2019, after purchasing the freehold in 2011.

They spoke of a 12-month renovation before the Covid-19 pandemic disrupted developments and projects nationwide.

The plan was then for a 104-seat two-screen cinema.

In December 2020, campaigners warned of serious decay to the building, with water seeping into it and collapsed roofing.

They also said that pigeons had invaded the disused building and addicts have been there taking drugs.

Dover and Deal MP Natalie Elphicke said: “I was dismayed to hear of the fire. I have been in contact with Dover District Council, who have told me that they continue to explore options for this site with the owners, including some cinema use within any proposed development of it.

“Clearly the damage will now need to be assessed. Any site which remains derelict for a long time risks intruders and vandalism.

"I hope that the plans for the site may now be progressed quickly and that everyone can get behind moving it forward at pace.”

The Regent first opened in 1928 as a concert hall for military bands.

It became the Regent Cinema in 1933, with 911 seats, and was the largest in Deal until the Odeon opened in the town in 1936.

During the Second World War a searchlight was placed on its roof to seek out enemy planes.

The Regent closed as a cinema in 1963 as television increasingly took over for on-screen entertainment.

It later became a bingo hall and that closed in 2009.

The building's owners have been contacted by KentOnline for comment in the wake of the fire.

Anyone with information on the fire should call Kent Police on 01843 222289, quoting the reference number 46/109460/22.