Buses have been suspended in the centre of Maidstone after an incident at The Mall Chequers.

Police and fire crews have been called to the shopping centre after reports that a man is on the roof near Maidstone Bus Station.

Some buses were still able to pick up groups of school children and other passengers from King Street.

But no buses are able to use the bus station, situated in an underpass underneath the shopping centre and next to the Sainsbury’s store in Romney Place.

As of 5pm on Thursday evening, police said their main priority was to keep people away from the area.

A trained negotiating team have been called in, and fire crews were also seen deploying ladders.