Armed police will be out in force across Kent in the coming days in the wake of a terrorist attack in London.

Chief constable Alan Pughsley said there was no specific threat to the county, but urged the public to be vigilant and call 999 if they see anything suspicious.

"Public safety remains our top priority and there will be additional patrols, both armed and unarmed, across the county this evening to ensure Kent remains a safe place to live, work and visit," he said.

"There is nothing to suggest there is a specific threat to Kent and at this time our thoughts are with our Metropolitan Police Service colleagues and all those tragically affected by the event in London.

"I would like to ask the public to remain vigilant and let us know if they see anything suspicious that causes them concern by dialling 999 immediately."

His comments come after five died and around 40 were injured around the House of Commons in what is being treated as a terrorist attack.

The area around Westminster remained in lockdown this evening, after a car was driven into a crowd of people on Westminster Bridge and the driver then ran into the grounds of the House of Commons and attacked police with a knife.

The air ambulance landed earlier, and the House of Westminster session was suspended today.

There are said to be multiple casualties on Westminster Bridge, with one woman dead and others believed to have "catastrophic injuries".

The attacker is said to have been shot dead, and a police officer named as Keith Palmer was among those killed.

Prime Minister Theresa May, speaking outside 10 Downing Street, described the attack as "sick and depraved".

Among those caught up in the aftermath of the attack was van driver Mitchell Spree, from Sittingbourne, who was forced to leave his vehicle on Westminster Bridge.

“As we pulled onto Westminster Bridge we saw people laying on the bridge and then a SWAT team turned up with paramedics and they asked us to abandon our vehicle and just walk away,” he told the BBC.

"There was a lady on the pavement at the entry to the bridge but there were about, must have been, five more people further up on the bridge."

Several Kent politicians were also in Parliament when news broke of the shooting, with some even hearing the bangs.

MPs and staff were gradually allowed out of the Commons around four hours after the attacks.

Ashford MP Damian Green was one of those able to leave, going at about 6pm and returning to his London home.

He told Kent Online: "Police have been interviewing both MPs and staff before they have been allowed home. There are thousands so it is taking time.

"This has been absolutely appalling and it reminds us how brave our police are. They are out there protecting all of us every day.

"My thoughts are with the family of the police officer who was killed as well as the civilians."

Mr Green, Secretary of State for Work and Pension, had finished cabinet vote with colleagues when he heard the news.

He had not personally heard any shots or other noise connected to the attack.

Dover MP Charlie Elphicke said at 6.15pm that he and colleagues were still being kept in a secure location.

He said: "We have no idea how long we will be here but hopefully it will not be much longer.

"Detailed checks need to be carried out to make sure everyone is safe and sound. This is very concerning."

He had earlier said: "This is a horrific incident that happened just as members of parliament were going to vote. The whole of Parliament has been put into lockdown. "Police and security services had a clear plan that they put into immediate action to get the estate secure."My thoughts are with all those who have been hurt today especially the police officer who was hurt in their line of duty and the people struck down on Westminster Bridge."It has come as a great shock to my team and I."

Less than three hours before the horror erupted Mr Elphicke had had a pleasant exchange with Theresa May during Prime Minister's Questions on an innocent subject.

It was in congratulating wartime icon Dame Vera Lynn for her 100th birthday.

As the news of the outrage sank in this evening messages and gestures of sympathy streamed out.

Dover District Council chairman Sue Chandler expressed her council's sympathy for victims.

She made the comments that evening at meeting, which began at 6pm, to discuss the East

Kent councils merger.

Cllr Peter Wallace told Kent Online this evening: "Sue Chandler said at the opening that news is just emerging of what happened in London.

"As we don't have all the information we will have to give it more attention at the next meeting but our sympathies are with all the people involved in London.

"It was moving and being in that building representing people brings home the duty we have to people and the importance of protecting our democracy. "

A group of schoolchildren from Rainham Mark Grammar in Medway had earlier visited the House of Commons with MP Rehman Chishti.

Video: Westminster on lockdown

They left before the incident happened.

Simon Decker, head teacher at Rainham Mark, sent a message to parents confirming pupils were safe.

He said: "Parents may be aware that RMGS students were visiting the Houses of Parliament today and I am happy to report that they are all safe and returning home."

One of the pupils, Phil McCue, 16, said they were at the station getting some food when they heard the news.

He believed they must have left just five minutes before it happened, and were all a bit shaken.

It's understood a car drove into a group of people on Westminster Bridge.

MPs from across Kent spoke out earlier this afternoon after the incident.

They were kept inside the Chamber of the House of Commons, but we let out just after 5pm.

Roger Gale, MP for North Thanet and Herne Bay said: "I am looking out of a window down to the road below and armed police are rushing around.

"We are all locked in the voting lobby.

"I heard what sounded like four shots ringing out. We were half way through voting when everyone was locked in."

Dartford MP Gareth Johnson told how the situation unfolded.

He said: "Apparently a suspect has been shot and a policeman has either been shot or stabbed.

"There are school children here on a visit. We're in lockdown.

"It's a rather unpleasant atmosphere. Everyone's concerns are for the police officer at the moment.

"I heard shots firing out. We jumped behind pillars" - Gareth Johnson MP

"We were walking along the promenade to vote and we saw lots of police officers running. I heard shots firing out. We jumped behind pillars.

"There were lots of armed police in New Palace Yard.

"I saw a police officer lying on the floor in New Palace Yard. I think it was a man, in a hi-vis coat. It's a great concern for everyone here.

"I never expected anything like this, it's absolutely awful.

"It's a rather frightening situation."

He said some MPs were locked in the House of Commons and he was between the central lobby and the House of Commons.

Canterbury and Whitstable MP Julian Brazier was walking in the MPs' private tunnel from Portcullis House to the Parliament when he heard the shots ring out.

The Conservative said: "I was just walking through the tunnel I heard the shots and then a lot of people ran out of Westminster underground station.

"I then walked out on to Westminster Bridge Road and looked across and could see a car which had crashed into the railings.

"I could see a body on the floor more or less underneath the car. There are a lot of people in the area wondering what's going on."

Speaking from his office, Sittingbourne and Sheppey MP Gordon Henderson said: "We were in the middle of a vote when it took place and now, it appears, the house is in lockdown.

"MPs have been confined to the chamber.

"All that we have been told is that a police officer has been stabbed on the parliamentary estate and his assailant has been shot.

"The air ambulance is here now."

Damian Collins, the Folkestone & Hythe MP and chairman of the Culture, Media and Sports committee said: "I was with a group of MPs walking towards the House of Commons chamber.

"As we got towards the Houses of Parliament the police shouted at everyone to get down on the floor and we heard a couple of what sounded like shots being fired.

"Then they sent everyone back inside Portcullis House and that's where we are now.

"We are just watching the BBC reports to find out what's going on.

"It sounds like there could be two incidents.

"This was all around 2.40pm.

"I didn't see anything and it all happened very quickly but I did hear a couple of shots.

"People have remained calm and responded well to what they have been told to do.

"We have been told to stay here until they say otherwise and I don't really know any more than that."

Rochester and Strood MP Kelly Tolhurst, speaking from her House of Commons office, said: "I was walking through the lobbies heading for the chamber for two votes when the door closed.

"Parliament is suspended now. I've heard that two people have been shot, but I don't know really exactly what as happened."

MP for Dartford Gareth Johnson said: "I saw a bit of what happened outside. The suspect has been shot."

MP for Gravesham Adam Holloway said: "I can't talk there's a bit of a terrorist incident going on here."

Gravesham MP Adam Holloway said he was closed in his office as there was "some kind of terrorist incident" ongoing.

James King, aide to MP Craig Mackinlay, sent a picture from outside his office window. Mr King said: "We're all stuck in our building."I heard three or four what sounded like gun shots, looked out of the window and there was armed police crouching behind cars."I can see three ambulances on the bridge at the moment."They are telling us to stay in our building and not look out of the windows."A spokesman for Helen Whately, MP for Faversham and Mid Kent, said: "Helen is in the Chamber on lock down. It’s quite scary!"Helen Grant, MP for Maidstone and the Weald, tweeted: "Me and my team are fine but thanks must go to our fantastic police force in Westminster. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims."

Counter terrorism officers are said to have gone into parliament.

A statement released from the Metropolitan Police shortly after 3pm warned people to avoid the following areas: Parliament Square; Whitehall; Westminster Bridge; Lambeth Bridge; Victoria Street up to the junction with Broadway and the Victoria Embankment up to Embankment tube.

That was to allow the emergency services to deal with the ongoing incident.

They added: "Officers - including firearms officers - remain on the scene and we are treating this as a terrorist incident until we know otherwise.

"We thank the public for their assistance."

A Southeastern spokesman said trains were running normally after the incident.

A tweet said: "Following the ongoing incident at Westminster, our trains from Charing Cross, cannon Street & Victoria are currently running normally."

The Port of Dover also said services were operating to schedule, but Kings Ferry coaches said its services would most likely be affected into tomorrow.