Shoppers out trying to get a bargain in the sales in stores at two shopping centres had to be rescued by firefighters after getting stuck in lifts.

Firefighters from Medway Fire Station were first called to the Pentagon Shopping Centre, in Chatham today, after four people got stuck in a lift at the Wilko store at about 12.20pm.

A spokesman for Kent Fire and Rescue Service said the four had been stuck in the lift for about 20 minutes before the crew were able to free them.

Then about an hour later at 1.20pm, the same crew were called out to Hempstead Valley Shopping Centre in Gillingham, where eleven people had got trapped in a lift after it stopped working.

The spokesman added: “All were very grateful to get out the eleven people at Hempstead Valley Shopping Centre who were trapped were very hot and sweaty in the lift.”