Bluewater shopping centre was evacuated earlier.

The emergency services were called to the site in Greenhithe, near Dartford, this morning.

Hundreds of shoppers were asked to leave the centre, and sirens were played over the Tannoy.

One woman at the scene said: “An announcement was made telling everyone to leave and that there had been reports of a fire.

“Everyone was running out. There were hundreds of people outside, and two fire engines went past.

“It went on for about half an hour, and part of the site was closed.”

Kent Fire and Rescue Service has since confirmed it was stood down en route to the centre and the initial alarm was “raised in error”.