A smoking school bus on its way to pick up primary school children sparked an emergency fire call this morning.

Stella Maris Primary School's private vehicle had to stop in its tracks in Kingsnorth Gardens, Folkestone, after smoke emerged from the engine compartment.

Folkestone firefighters were called out at 7.30am.

Vic Thorogood, the watch manager, said: "The school bus had a small electrical fault in it.

"We opened the electrical compartment where the driver sits and disconnected the battery and then we left it for him to call a mechanic."