FIVE people were injured when part of the ceiling collapsed in the Sir Thomas Wyatt pub and restaurant in London Road, Maidstone.

Firefighters, police and ambulance crews were called to the scene after the collapse which happened in the restaurant area of the Beefeater-owned pub just after 6.30pm on Friday.

The people injured suffered cuts to the head and were treated by paramedics. Three were then taken on to Maidstone Hospital.

The pub was closed after the incident while cleaning-up operations began and an investigation was launched into the cause of the accident.

Spokesman for Beefeater, Beverley Wilkins, said: “A small area of the ceiling collapsed in the restaurant area. A few people were injured and they did need medical attention.

“We do not know what caused the collapse yet and are working with the relevant authorities to find out what happened."