Emergency services were called to an abandoned nightclub amid concerns for a person thought to be inside.

Police, fire and ambulance crews spent most of the afternoon at the former Liquid nightclub and flour mills in East Hill, Ashford.

They arrived just after 1pm but, following a lengthy search of the site, no one was found.

A police spokesman said: “We were called following a report of concern for a person thought to be in an abandoned building at 1.10pm.

“Officers attended and a search of the building was carried out assisted by the fire service.

“No one was located inside and inquiries into the report remain ongoing.”

Police cordoned off the road next to the historic building, which has stood empty for years.

The former H.S Pledge and Sons mill was built in 1901 and was first owned by miller Henry Sturges, before becoming a nightclub in later years.

The ex-Cales, Dusty’s and Liquid nightspot shut in 2014, and is now set to be turned into 53 flats after plans were approved by Ashford Borough Council in 2022.

In September, five fire engines were sent to the unlisted mill after a blaze broke out, but no injuries were reported.

Two months later, an eerie TikTok video revealed how the site looked inside after urban explorers ventured into the building.

Property developer Oliver Davis purchased the building in 2021 but is yet to start work on the residential development.

Mr Davis, whose MTH Flour Mills Ltd company owns the site, said earlier this year how the project “is held up by the Stodmarsh lake issue, hence why it has not started”.

“If a mitigation scheme is available we would love to hear about it. As soon as we have a solution we will be starting,” he added.

Problems with nutrient neutrality levels in and around Stodmarsh Nature Reserve near Canterbury have delayed huge numbers of houses being built across east Kent.

The former mill was previously owned by Ashford School, which sits next to the building.

A school spokesman said: “Thankfully, the incident at the flour mills was over by the time school finished and there was minimal inconvenience to our pupils and parents.

“We would like to thank the emergency services that attended for their rapid response, efficient traffic management and excellent communication with the school.”