Shoppers were forced to abandon their trolleys after Whitstable Tesco Extra was evacuated.

Hundreds of people gathered outside the store in Millstrood Road just before 1pm this afternoon.

Customers in the store's cafe had to leave their hot meals behind, but were later given new portions when the shop was reopened.

A Tesco spokesman said the evacuation was a planned fire drill.

She said: "It was a fire drill - we had everyone in and out in five minutes.

"Health and safety is obviously at the forefront of our minds and we were just making sure everything is right, which it is."