A hospital was put on full lockdown after a man ran amok with a screwdriver.

Reports say the man threatened staff in the minor injuries department of Sittingbourne Memorial Hospital in Bell Road this morning.

It is understood the whole of the site was closed off so no one could enter or leave the building from around 9.30am to 10am.

The minor injuries unit is run by Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust (KCHFT). The wards are operated by Virgin Care. A KCHFT spokesman said: "The minor injury unit at Sittingbourne Memorial Hospital opened slightly later than planned this morning.

"It was delayed for a short time as a precaution while we were dealing with an incident. We apologise for any inconvenience."

A police spokesman said: "At around 9.20am on Tuesday we attended Sittingbourne Memorial Hospital due to concerns a man may be in possession of a weapon.

"Officers attended and established that at no point was a weapon produced nor were any threats to harm anyone made."

He added: "The man was subsequently allowed to leave the scene."

It is the fourth time the hospital has been forced to shut this year.

In October a man with a knife was reportedly Tasered by police outside after threatening staff at the Memorial Medical Centre which is part of the health complex.

In May it locked its doors for three hours when it was reported a man armed with a knife had been on his way to the building. On that occasion, the man returned to his home before reaching the hospital. It is not known if the incidents were linked.

Earlier this year police were called when a suspected bomb was found on the premises. It was later identified as a worker’s lunch box.

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