DOZENS of staff were evacuated from Swale House, the borough council’s headquarters in Sittingbourne, after a bomb scare this afternoon.

Police cordoned off the building on the corner the High Street and Bell Road, closing those roads and East Street, while officers searched the building.

Police also evacuated the bingo hall in Bell Road, opposite Swale House, with staff and customers waiting in the car park behind the building.

Among the staff evacuated from Swale House was Cllr Martin Goodhew, the ruling Tory group’s executive member for community safety, and chief executive Mark Bilsborough who addressed staff with a megaphone.

Cllr Goodhew said staff were leaving Swale House at about 1pm as he arrived. He added: "The staff were asked to go and get a cup of tea and then come back at 3pm."

He said a member of staff in the council customer services department received a call alleging there was a bomb in the build. Police were called and the evacuation procedure was immediately started.

He said: "The police arrived very quickly and proceeded to search the building."