A Kent hospital has now reopened after it shut its doors because of a knife threat.

Staff and patients at Sittingbourne Memorial Hospital were on alert from about noon after receiving a message that a man was heading to the site in Bell Road and was armed.

It is understood the man said he had a knife.

The whole hospital was locked down and police were informed of a possible dangerous situation.

No patients were allowed in and staff were banned from leaving.

It is understood the man later returned to his home but Virgin Care, which runs the ward upstairs, said preparations were in place to escort staff from the building if needed.

A sign was placed at the entrance to the hospital, which read: "No entry to the hospital until further notice".

The hospital reopened three hours later at 3.30pm but not until several patients had been waiting for hours to collect their medication.

A spokesman for Kent Community Health Foundation Trust, which runs the hospital's minor injury unit, said: "The minor injury unit at Sittingbourne Memorial Hospital has now reopened after being closed for a short time earlier today.

"The hospital was closed for a short time as a precaution while we were dealing with an incident.

"We apologise for any inconvenience.”

Alex Brightman, 17, said: "I was really worried I wouldn’t be able to pick up my medication. If I don’t have my pills I have a risk of having a heart attack. It’s been a nightmare.

“For anyone to threaten the NHS like this, especially when staff are so busy, is absolutely unacceptable.

"I hope the police find out who made these threats."

Pauline Elliott, 75, from Haysel had been waiting in the car park since 2.30pm to pick up her prescription.

She said: "All I wanted to do was pick up my tablets. It was getting stupid. If it was so dangerous the police should have been here."

Police were called to the hospital earlier this year when a suspected bomb was found on the premises.

Read more: All the latest news from Sittingbourne