A MAN had to leap to safety from the first floor window of a flat when fire broke out in an outbuilding.

The incident occurred in Owletts Alley, off the High Street, Tonbridge, just before 10pm on Monday.

A Kent Police spokeswoman said: "The fire spread to shop premises and a man who was trapped in a flat above the outbuilding jumped from a first floor window. He was not injured in any way."

Detectives are treating the fire as suspicious and are following a number of lines of inquiry, including forensic examination of the scene and examination of CCTV.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 01732 379217 or Kent Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.