People who set off fire alarms as a joke are being warned they could face a criminal record.

It comes after the Venue nightclub at Kent University had to be evacuated early Thursday.

A 20-year-old man has been bailed pending a decision to prosecute after being arrested on suspicion of criminal damage.

Two fire appliances and police patrols were called to the club just before 1am. Hundreds of students had already been safely moved out of the nightspot. The broken fire alarm point was identified and a man arrested.

Insp Gordon Etheridge said: “This is a complete waste of resources. Not only is it an inconvenience to everyone involved, but there is the potential for the loss of property, injury or worse as the result of a thoughtless prankster taking up the valuable time of the emergency services."

Mike Godden, Canterbury fire station Green Watch manager, who attended the incident, said: “Our predetermined attendance to the university for a suspected fire is always a minimum of two pumps.

“That means we are then relying on Herne Bay or Whitstable to cover us if another incident comes in.

“There is a knock on effect across the county and there is the potential for a delayed response.

“We hope that people think twice. It is not a harmless bit of fun; it is idiotic and irresponsible.”

Prof Keith Mander, deputy vice-chancellor at the university, said: “The university regards the safety of its staff and students as a very important matter. Any malicious action that compromises that safety will be thoroughly investigated.”