A crown court was closed after an alarm was reportedly heard coming from a room used to store oil.

Solicitors, court staff and defendants were escorted out of the building in Barker Road.

The cause of the alarm is not yet known, but officials say engineers were called to the scene.

Security staff informed people as they arrived that an alarm had activated in a room near the main car park.

Some people waited outside the front and rear entrances while others adjourned to the McDonald's drive-thru for breakfast.

"No-one seems to know what's happening," said one member of staff. "We have just been told to wait for further information."

Judge Philip Statman made an announcement on the court stairs shortly after 10.30am. He said: "It is really important all of you are given as much information as possible.

"An alarm is sounding in the building. Until that can be isolated it is very important for issues of safety and the safety of you all that I don't allow you admission.

"I have senior management and engineers working to rectify the situation. I have had to take the executive decision to evacuate the building."

The alert happened just as Resident Judge Jeremy Carey flew off on holiday, leaving Judge Philip Statman in charge.

Security company GEOAmey took defendants in custody to Maidstone police station.

The court reopened shortly after 11.30am.

Additional reporting Keith Hunt