An automated voice message was informing people that the offices of a borough council were evacuated this morning.

When phoning the number for Maidstone Borough Council, which operates in Maidstone House, callers were told "we have been evacuated from the building and are unable to take your call, please try again later".

The council confirmed the building was not evacuated and it was having issues with its phone lines.

The system automatically resorted to an emergency message - it was resolved shortly after 10am.

A spokesman said that they were working to determine the cause and get it fixed as soon as possible, and added that it was unlikely the lines had been hacked.

A number of areas are on high alert following the terrorist attacks in Paris over a week ago, with Bluewater being evacuated on the weekend following reports of a suspicious package.