Businesses were damaged when fire ripped through a group of farm buildings.

Firefighters believe the blaze started deliberately and an investigation is under way this morning with police and fire teams.

Crews were called to the incident in the complex off Hyton Drive in Deal shortly after 11pm.

They spent around three hours tackling the flames in the single storey building and a storage room - eventually leaving the scene at around 2.30am.

Police were called by Kent Fire and Rescue Service to attend. A police spokesman confirmed this morning an investigation has been launched and officers are treating the cause as suspicious.

The building is home to three businesses with firefighters saying this morning saying one of the premises and a storage container were 25% destroyed in the fire.

All the business premises were damaged by heat and smoke but nobody was injured in the fire.

Crews were wearing breathing apparatus and covered the buildings with four jets of water from four fire engines.

Gas cylinders were removed from the building and those thought to have caught light were taken away and cooled.

One of the four fire engines was armed with the fog spike to blast high pressured mist into the structure rapidly reducing the temperature in the building and halting the spread of the fire.

Crews also used thermal imaging cameras.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Kent Police on 01843 222289 quoting reference number 28-1354. Alternatively, call Kent Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.