A phone outage meant a hospital could not receive any incoming calls.

Darent Valley Hospital in Dartford announced a “temporary phone service interruption” this afternoon.

Expectant mothers were given an emergency mobile number to contact if they went into labour or needed urgent assistance from the maternity department.

But at about 8.30pm, a spokesperson for the Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust told KentOnline the phone lines were back up and running.

Earlier the hospital said the outage was “being addressed” and that updates would be provided.

“When the works are complete you will be able to reach the team via the switchboard as normal,” it said.