WARDS at Gillingham's Medway Maritime Hospital were evacuated after an explosion and fire in an electrical room.

Firefighters arrived at the scene at around 10.45am on Friday after they were alerted by an automatic fire alarm. It had been triggered in an electrical room.

The fire was contained but smoke had seeped into the ventilation system and begun to spread around the hospital.

A full search of the hospital was carried out but no other fires were found.

Five fire crews tackled the blaze which was extinguished by 11.30am. Three crews remained until 12.30pm to assist hospital staff. No-one was injured.