A fire that forced nearly 300 people to be evacuated from a Folkestone hotel is being treated as suspicious, say police.

Emergency services were called to the Grand Burstin Hotel, in Marine Parade, just after 1am on Saturday.

Kent fire service had 26 engines on the scene at the peak of the incident and believe the blaze started in the basement.

No injuries have been reported.

"Enquiries into the circumstances are underway and officers now believe the fire may have been caused deliberately," said Kent Police.

Officers are seeking witnesses and dashcam footage from the area, particularly from 10pm on Friday to 12.30am on Saturday.

The 550-room hotel is operated by Britannia Hotels and overlooks the town's harbour.

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The blaze was brought under control by 8.30am but nine engines were still damping down at the site this afternoon, the fire service said.

Some 280 people were evacuated from the hotel and taken to a welfare centre organised by the council.