Shocked shoppers said 'somebody could have died' after a huge shop sign fell onto the path below in a town centre.

Eyewitnesses have taken to social media to share pictures of a smashed Debenhams sign, thought to be approximately 10m long, in Folkestone this afternoon.

It happened on the Bouverie Square side of the building, next to Burger King.

A cordon has been placed around the debris.

One shopper at the scene said: "That easily could have killed somebody."

Our reporter Sean Axtell said from the scene: "There's danger more is going to fall down.

"There's several tonnes of signage which has fallen, including the whole Debenhams sign.

"One of the bosses said that nobody was hurt.

"I can see what looks like damp, maybe rotten wood.

"The wooden girders look as if they have fallen into disrepair.

"There's currently a clutch of onlookers looking on in disbelief.

"It's really lucky nobody died."

Eyewitnesses are reportedly looking on in shock, with one saying that it was fortunate today is not the height of summer and a bustling day.

Two police officers are also said to be on the scene.

Debenhams staff would not comment on the incident at the scene.

A Debenhams press office spokesperson said: “We can confirm that a signage panel on our Folkestone store fell off this afternoon.

"No-one was hurt in the incident and we are investigating what happened as a matter of urgency.

"We have a rolling maintenance programme in all stores. Maintenance around the signage was carried out within the last 12 months."

The reason for the shop front's collapse has not yet been confirmed.

A Folkestone and Hythe District Council spokesperson said: "Our building control team and they were not called to the site, but will go and have a look and advise the building’s owners on any necessary steps to make it safe."

Kent Police and the Health and Safety Executive have also been approached for comment.