A Maidstone tower block was evacuated this evening after scaffolding collapsed onto a gas main.

Residents of Midhurst Court, Mote Road, were sent to Sainsbury's car park as police, paramedics, specialist gas engineers and the fire brigade work at the scene.

Matthew Scott, a 10th floor resident, said it looked like a gas pipe which runs vertically along the exterior of the building was damaged half way up meaning engineers can only access it from the scaffolding.

Mr Scott said: "Me and my mum had just come back from birthday shopping in Maidstone and they had sealed off the main entrance.

"We had to go in through the bin store and could see that scaffolding at the bottom was bent at a 70 degree angle, while a retaining bar was bent 40 degrees.

"You would have thought they would have been better prepared for something like this but they were not ready for what happened."

Mr Scott has been making lists of people with medical needs while Sainsbury's have donated blankets and water.

A council official is leading the response and disabled residents are still being removed from the building.

A rest centre was later set up at Maidstone Leisure Centre to provide shelter to those who had to leave their homes.

People were able to get food and drink and updates on what was happening.

Karl Hudson, had been at the centre, in Willow Way, since around 5pm, with his girlfriend Diane Arney.

He said: "They have looked after us really well and I cannot find fault with anything. We've been fed and watered and the staff from Golding Homes and the leisure centre have been great."

He added: "When we were told to evacuate, I went round my floor knocking on doors and telling people to get out. We heard there had been a gas leak."

While police say there are no reported injuries at least one person has been taken into an ambulance at the scene following the collapse at 5pm.

Residents have been told they will spend the night at Maidstone Leisure Centre, while those who require medication are being catered for.

Garry Baillie, who lives on the seventh floor with wife Sharon, said: "I was watching Rude Tube when my wife told me to get out. She quickly went back into the flat to get our cat, Amber, and put her in the cat buggy.

"I heard scaffolding had collapsed and hit a gas pipe and there's lots of police and an ambulance here. The road has been closed off and I've never seen it so quiet. I haven't heard if anyone has been injured, and we've not yet had any information from anyone official or any idea when we can get back indoors. All we were told was to get out and wait at a safe distance."

One fourth floor resident added: "To be honest with you we have been told sod all other than what is going round."

A road closure is in place from the junction of Lower Stone Street to the A20 Ashford Road. Mote Road, Romney Place and Kingsley Road are also closed.

A spokesman for Golding Homes, which owns the property, said: "At approximately 5pm today we were notified that a part of the scaffolding at Midhurst Court, the block of flats at Mote Road, had given way and was resting on the main gas supply.

"Transco is currently on site to carry out safety checks to the gas supply and contractors Mitie are also on site to make safe the scaffolding.

"We can confirm that the building is currently being evacuated and we are liaising closely with the emergency services and supporting them in the emergency response."

She added it is not clear whether residents will be allowed back in tonight or whether the collapse has caused a gas leak.

A spokesman for Allscaff Scaffolding, which erected the frame, said: "At 2.30pm today part of the designed scaffold fixed to a concrete ring beam failed, a small section of

scaffold dropped 18 inches, as can clearly be seen one standard has buckled under the deflection and we have had crews working on site to resolve this issue.

"Clearly at 5.30pm our client, after being aware of the situation, decided to evacuate the building — we can not comment on these actions."

A police spokesman said: "We were called to the scene after scaffolding around a building in Mote Road collapsed at around 4.45pm.

"At present no injuries have been reported however safety checks need to be carried out on a gas pipe which is believed to have been hit.

"To ensure public safety, officers have enforced road closures.

"Kent Fire and Rescue Service are also in attendance, as are specialist gas engineers. Residents living in an area affected by the cordon are advised to approach officers at the scene who will be happy to assist."

Police announced the road closures had been lifted at 9pm.

A spokesman added: "Checks on a gas pipe hit by the scaffolding uncovered a gas leak and engineers from the gas board are working to make the pipe safe.

"To ensure public safety officers enforced closures from the junction of Lower Stone Street/ Wat Tyler Way to the A20 Ashford Road.

"Mote Road, Romney Place and Kingsley Road were also affected.

"These closures have been lifted however a section of Mote Road, between Kingsley Road and Chancery Lane, will remain closed to allow repairs to the pipe to take place.

"No injuries have been reported as a result of the collapse.

"Residents affected by the incident are asked to approach officers at the scene who will be happy to assist."

The rest area at Maidstone Leisure Centre had wound down by around 10pm and it is believed most residents had left to go home around then.