A teenage boy arrested on suspicion of arson following a house fire in Maidstone has been released on bail.

The blaze started in the semi-detached home in Sussex Road shortly after 11pm yesterday and two fire crews called.

A police spokesman said that enquiries into the cause of the fire were ongoing but a 15-year-old boy was arrested in connection with the incident.

Neighbours say they were alerted by the sound of glass breaking.

One resident, who did not want be named, said: "I have never seen anything like it. It was like something out of a film.

"We heard the right hand window shatter and everyone went outside to see what was going on.

"You could see the flames, the whole of the top floor was on fire. Then the other window went. It took the firefighters a good 20 minutes to bring it under control."

It is understood that the homeowner was out at the time of the fire. No injuries were reported.

This morning a cordon had been placed around the property and police were standing guard.

Door-to-door enquiries and forensics investigations have also been taking place.