Gordon Brown made Kent his first stop on the campaign trail today - just hours after calling the general election.

The PM arrived on a train from St Pancras at 1pm on a meet and greet visit to Morrisons supermarket in Knight Road, Strood.

Mr Brown was at the centre of a media scrum as he toured the busy store in the marginal Rochester and Strood constituency with his wife Sarah.

He stayed for around half an hour and spoke to staff and customers.

Rochester and Strood has been targeted by the Conservatives because Labour only hold a majority of 213.

It follows a visit by Tory leader David Cameron to a Morrisons distribution centre in Sittingbourne last week.

KentOnline reporter Katie Lamborn follows Gordon Brown's visit

Mr Brown had named the day in Downing Street after returning from Buckingham Palace, where he formally asked the Queen to grant a dissolution of Parliament.

Mr Brown then jumped on a train to the Rochester and Strood constituency.

He told staff in the store canteen: "I'm interrupting your lunch here, I'm so sorry. You've got a great store here."

Shopper Emily Murrells, 18, said: "I thought it was brilliant he came he just seemed like a warm genuine guy."

Karen Record, 41, said: "Fantastic that he's coming down to meet ordinary people. I thought it made him seem very real.

"I spoke to him and he said thanks very much for coming down and I wished him luck for the election."

Mr Brown is also due to visit the Aylesford Print Works near Maidstone today before meeting a couple in their own home in Rainham.