A 37-year-old man has been charged with making a hoax bomb threat in a bogus telephone call to Kent Police.

Scott Michael Monks of Ethelbert Road, Margate, was arrested after phoning the Force Communication Centre at Maidstone on Monday night.

Police carried out immediate checks and Monks was arrested soon afterwards under Section 51 of the Criminal Law Act 1977.

He has been charged with communicating false information, namely a bomb hoax, to an emergency services representative. He has been bailed to appear in court on Tuesday, July 19.

Making a hoax bomb threat carries a maximum prison sentence of seven years.

Assistant Chief Constable Dave Ainsworth said: "Kent Police will simply not tolerate people who make hoax calls or malicious reports.

"We will deal quickly and effectively with individuals who potentially put the safety of the public at risk by diverting emergency service resources.

"We’ve been greatly encouraged by the public’s vigilance during this time of heightened security and obviously people have nothing to fear by reporting anything that causes them genuine concern.

"We take seriously the issue of hoax calls and we will make every effort to arrest and prosecute those responsible."