An osteopathy business which opened at new premises six months ago has been forced to close after it was damaged in an arson attack.

The windows were blown in from the heat of the flames and doors destroyed at The Atman Clinic on London Road, Southborough, near Tunbridge Wells yesterday after the fire, which broke out in an adjoining bin storage area.

Firefighter at the scene of the blaze

Four fire engines were called to fight the flames, which totally destroyed a shed in a communal refuse area, and a woman had to be rescued from one of the upstairs flats.

Crews were at the scene for four-and-a-half hours. Today, police confirmed three teenage boys have been arrested on suspicion of arson.

The Atman Clinic was established in 1994 but moved from St John's Road to London Road in January.

Owner Geoff Montague-Smith, 56, said: “I was with a patient and then the smoke detector went off.

“Because one of the flats upstairs has been sold, I initially told our receptionist that I thought it was a false alarm. But there were eight to 10 wheelie bins out the back.

“There was a small fire the size of a dustbin bin lid near them. I went out and then back into the kitchen and got a bin of water.

"But the fire was raging so fast that I couldn’t do anything about it.

“So then the fire brigade arrived and they were absolutely brilliant, but there was so much smoke getting into the upstairs flats.

"I'm so glad I came back into the building and made sure the door was shut ingress.

"That was a good thing, otherwise the damage inside would have been a lot worse."

The heat of the fire was so intense that it smashed windows. Doors were also damaged while both the business and the flats upstairs were badly affected, and a shed and fence burnt as well.

Mr Montague-Smith understands the woman who had to be rescued from the fire went to hospital as a precaution.

He said: “She got rescued by the fire crews.

“I spoke to her boyfriend. He said she was shocked but okay.

“They said to take her to hospital, which seemed a good idea to me, because you can think you are all right but it's always good to get checked over."

A police spokesman said: "Kent Police is investigating a suspicious fire in Southborough, Tunbridge Wells.

"Officers were called to London Road at around 3.40pm on Wednesday, where fire crews were responding to a fire in a shed that had spread to neighbouring properties.

"One person was taken to hospital due to smoke inhalation and an investigation into the cause of the fire commenced.

"Three teenage boys have been arrested on suspicion of arson and taken into custody."

Mr Montague-Smith says the business will be shut until at least next week while forensic teams have been assessing the damage today.

On how he would get the business - which employs seven osteopaths in total with Mr Montague-Smith as principal osteopath - back up and running, Mr Montague-Smith said: “That will be a challenge. But the main thing we are thinking is, thank God no-one is dead.

“This is a relatively minor inconvenience when you consider it could have been a lot worse.

"The main problem for us is the problem with the internet into the building.

"We are paperless now so I don't know how long that will take to get sorted."

Mr Montague-Smith moved into the new premises and was partnered by his wife, Helen, who is the practice manager at the clinic.

“My wife, Helen, would know for sure but it was in excess of £70,000 (was spent re-developing the building),” he said.

“We were on St John’s Road previously. We have got the ground floor and the basement, and upstairs, is flats.

“I’m not sure anyone will be living here for a while. There’s quite an acrid smell.

“I think anyone living in the flats will have to be moved somewhere else for the time being.”

The A26 London Road was partially closed as emergency crews dealt with the fire, which led to long delays, although Mr Montague-Smith says London Road works are now no longer there.

Police are asking anyone with information that may assist the investigation to call Kent Police on 01622 604100, quoting reference 46/125203/22 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 or complete the online form on its website.