A pensioner who was taken ill at John Lewis in Bluewater yesterday died at the scene, it has been confirmed.

The woman, who was in her 70s, collapsed in the department store, which was evacuated because of the incident.

Despite people trying to save her life, the woman could not be resuscitated.

South East Coast Ambulance Service spokesman Brian Cumming said: "At 12.08 yesterday SECAmb responded with two response cars and two ambulances to a woman in her 70s who collapsed at Bluewater Shopping Centre.

"Despite bystander CPR and the efforts of the crews, the woman could not be resuscitated.

"We would like to thank the people on scene who assisted in the incident for all their efforts in trying to help this woman."

The flagship store at the shopping centre in Greenhithe was closed for some time because of the incident.

The news of its closure was revealed via Bluewater's Twitter account.

A tweet asked customers and visitors to the centre to bear with the store while the incident was dealt with and the woman could receive treatment.

Police and paramedics were called to the shopping centre shortly after midday.

One tweet read: "Got evacuated from John Lewis in Bluewater, police everywhere, absolute scenes."

Kent Police officers were alerted to the medical incident at 12.22pm.

The store was able to reopen at about 2pm.