A fire alarm brought the party to a premature end for hundreds of students at Kent University on Sunday morning.

Two pumps from Canterbury fire station were called out to student union building The Venue on the city’s campus around 1.30am after a smashed fire break point triggered the alarm.

The building, which was full to capacity for the annual Welcome Ball for new students, was evacuated as a precaution. No one was hurt and after carrying out an inspection, fire crews declared the building safe.

In a statement on The Venue’s website, venue and entertainments manager Ian Dancy thanked students for their cooperation during the evacuation.

He said: "Our students must be aware though that fire alarm break points should only be used in an emergency and it is an offence to set one off if there is no emergency.

"The Venue work in close conjunction with both the fire service and police to catch anyone who feels it is appropriate to smash a break point as a hoax."