Britain's biggest Wetherspoon was evacuated after a bogus police officer warned staff of an emergency.

Bosses at the Royal Pavilion in Ramsgate asked customers to leave the seafront pub after the alarm was raised.

They say someone claiming to be with Kent Police called to say there was an ongoing incident and patrols were on their way.

But after punters were left waiting outside for an hour without any officers arriving, it was established the phone call had been a hoax.

A spokesman for Wetherspoon said of yesterday's incident: "The evacuation took place following a phone call from police, at approximately 5.45pm, advising of the emergency and that they would be in attendance imminently.

“When police failed to arrive, management called 999 to check the status of the emergency.

“With no further information received by 6.45pm, a follow-up call from pub management to the emergency services then revealed that this had been a hoax call, although authentic police ID had been used.

“Staff re-entered the pub at 7pm to clean and prepare for reopening. The pub reopened at 7.20pm.

“Police are investigating the incident.”

The spokesman says pub bosses were told the officer whose ID was used was off-duty at the time, and did not make the call.

Kent Police did not wish to add any further comment.