A pensioner who was arrested on suspicion of possessing a firearm without a certificate after antique guns were found at his home following a fire, has now been bailed by police.

Police were called to help crews from Kent Fire and Rescue Service after a blaze broke out in a house in Nelson Road, Gillingham, yesterday afternoon.

Officers closed the road as firefighters put out the flames and later the guns were discovered.

A quantity of ammunition was also recovered.

A police spokesman said: “To ensure public safety, and to assist fire crews, officers enforced closures on Nelson Road and Napier Road.

“While at the scene a number of antique, replica and unlicensed firearms were uncovered and a man in his 70s has been arrested on suspicion of possessing a firearm without a certificate.

"An explosive ordnance disposal team were also called to the scene as a precaution."

On Tuesday morning, the police spokesman confirmed the pensioner had been bailed pending further inquiries.

Firefighters spent two hours at the scene and police, including detectives, were still there almost 24 hours later.

About 20 firefighters were sent to the terraced property at about 1.45pm and used breathing apparatus to enter the building safely and tackle the flames.

Four fire engines were sent and police closed part of the road.

The fire broke out while the owners had gone out for a meal at a nearby restaurant.

The emergency services were alerted when a relative, who lives in the same street, spotted smoke coming from the house.

When crews arrived they thought it was a chimney fire but discovered it had spread into the loft from a bedroom at the back of the house.

They needed to use a height vehicle to tackle the flames.

A spokesman for Kent Fire and Rescue said there was severe fire damage to the bedroom and loft.

Other rooms suffered smoke damage and the ground floor suffered water damage.

The owner returned to the property while crews were still there and told them she thought the fire may have been caused by a problem with the wiring to a fish tank in the bedroom.

Later the Army bomb disposal squad were called after police officers found the weapons.

Police say they are still investigating the incident and have arrested a 70 year-old man.

A spokesman for Kent Fire and Rescue Service, said earlier: “The fire is believed to have started in a first floor bedroom at the back of the house and broken through into the roof void.

“The cause of the fire is not known at this stage and there were no reports of any injuries.”

The spokesmen added the home suffered severe fire damage to the bedroom and loft and other rooms suffered smoke damage and the ground floor suffered water damage.

The police spokesman added: "The man arrested in Medway on suspicion of possessing a firearm without a certificate has been bailed, pending further inquiries, until May 29.