Shoppers at Tesco in Park Farm were told to drop everything and leave after a fire alarm went off this morning.

The alarm is believed to have been triggered at around 11.30am at the store, and shoppers had to leave shopping and trolleys inside.

It is believed it was a false alarm, but staff had to tell customers to leave after they couldn’t switch off the alarm after more than 20 seconds.

A spokesman for Kent Fire and Rescue Service said it is believed to have been an automatic alarm activation, and that crews were not sent to the scene.

Tesco has been contacted to clarify the circumstances, but it is now believed the store has reopened.