A theatre goer is thought to have died after collapsing at Canterbury's Marlowe Theatre ahead of a matinee performance of West End hit The Bodyguard.

Staff rushed to the aid of the victim, who was in her 80s, as she collapsed in the upstairs foyer area yesterday around 2pm.

They used an emergency defibrillator kit in an attempt to revive the woman before paramedics arrived on the scene.

She was transferred to Kent and Canterbury Hospital where she later passed away.

Theatre director Mark Everett expressed his condolences and paid tribute to the efforts of staff members who administered CPR.

"It's terribly sad and our thoughts go to the lady's family," he said. "We do do a lot of training for this sort of incident and CPR was administered.

"The paramedics were here very quickly and took over. Our understanding is that unfortunately she didn't make it."

Mr Everett said the show was postponed for approximately 25 minutes as staff and paramedics battled to save the victim.

Two ambulances attended the theatre in the city centre at around 2pm.

Spokesman Rich Airey said: "We're always very thankful for any assistance given before we arrive to give patients the best chance of survival.

"We're grateful to everyone at the theatre who tried to help and very sad to hear the woman passed away. Our thoughts are with her family."