A woman was taken to hospital after a piece of wood blown off a town centre shopfront by heavy winds landed on her head.

Emergency services were called to the incident in Mortimer Street, Herne Bay, just before 12.50pm.

Adrian Metcalf, who runs 4Seasons Clothing, confirmed that a part of the woodwork above the sign for his town centre store was blown off by the heavy winds.

He said: "I was shocked because it came out of the blue and wasn't expected.

"It blew off in the wind; it's been a windy day. It wasn't the sign that came off, it was a part of the woodwork.

"There was nothing else to come off because it was just an edge above the sign."

Mr Metcalf says the rest of the outdoor clothing and embroidery store's shopfront is secure.

"I was shocked because it came out of the blue and wasn't expected" - Adrian Metcalf

"Unfortunately it's a windy day and a freak thing," he added.

An ambulance spokesman says the woman was treated at the scene for injuries, including one to her head.

Following an assessment, they decided to take her to the QEQM Hospital in Margate.

The spokesman added: "We attended the scene following reports a person had been injured by what was described as a piece of wood falling from a building.

"One patient, suffering from injuries, including a head injury, was assessed and treated at the scene before being taken to QEQM Hospital in Margate."

Elsewhere in the county, one of the large trees that line Gillingham High Street toppled over this morning, taking down a lamppost and narrowly missing several businesses.

There were no injuries, but police have cordoned off the area and workers were at the site removing debris.

Read more: All the latest news from Herne Bay