High Brooms blaze: Suspected arson attack leaves string of Tunbridge Wells firms in tatters

A suspected arson attack has left a string of High Brooms businesses in tatters.

Fire fighters – who are still at the site off North Farm Road - were called at 2am this morning and battled the blaze all night.

Several business units, which share one building on Godfrey's Yard, in Baldwins Lane, were affected with some completely gutted.

Incident commander Brett Egan said at the scene this morning: "At the moment, although we cannot get in there, we're treating it as suspicious.

"There are a number of indicators that don't quite add up so we're going to work through those with the fire investigation people and police."

Five fire engines and 25 fire fighters battled the flames, with Mr Egan saying 30 per cent of the building had been severely damaged by fire and 70 per cent by heat and smoke.

 "On arrival we were faced with an intense fire coming out of the lower unit with flames spreading into the adjacent garage," he said.

"It's been that intense the building's been structurally affected and it's unsafe for us to go in there."

Pete Goddard, owner of construction company Newton Goddard Ltd, said: "It's not what you expect to see coming into work on a morning.

"We've got off fairly lightly, it's just smoke damage for us, thank god."