A bomb disposal team was called to a former care home following reports of a suspicious device in the back of a van.

Police put in a wide cordon around the ex-St Valery Care Home in Kennington, Ashford, while the vehicle was assessed.

The whole Penlee Point junction next to the home – which links Canterbury Road and Faversham Road – was closed, sparking long queues in the area.

The area was sealed off for about an hour but emergency services left the scene just before 8pm.

Ashford historian Steve Salter spotted police in the area at 7pm.

"The whole of Penlee Point, which is normally really busy at this time of night, was completely deserted," he said.

"I was told there was some unidentified ordnance in a white van in the driveway of the former nursing home.

"Traffic was either turning around at Bybrook Road or going up through Rylands Road.

"There are three police cars at the bottom Bybrook Road and more further up toward the former care home too."

A police spokesman said: “Kent Police was called on Tuesday following a report a van in York Road, Kennington, had been damaged.

“On attendance, officers found a suspicious item in the van and a Ministry of Defence bomb disposal team attended.

“The item was found to pose no risk to public safety. Enquiries into the damage caused to the van are ongoing.”

St Valery Care Home closed in 2021 after three decades of service due to health and Covid struggles.