Picture courtesy of Countrywide Photographic

Armed police have been called to a hotel in Hythe after reports a man was threatening a member of staff with a gun.

Officers were scrambled to the Mercure Hythe Imperial Hotel and Spa at 10:26am and all guests were evacuated.

The man has now made off and police are searching the area for him.

Princes Parade near Twiss Road is closed while officers deal with the incident.

Gary Browne, a KM Photographer, is at the scene, he said: "There seems to be a lot of police activity still. There's about a dozen officers dressed in black and wearing helmets."

A bomb disposal team are also at the scene but police said this is only a precautionary measure.

It is not thought anyone was injured.