HUNDREDS of people had to be evacuated after a bomb scare at council offices on Thursday afternoon.

Employees at Swale Borough Council were led away to a safe distance in St Michael's Road, Sittingbourne, after the council's bomb alert was activated.

Police were called to the offices in East Street at around 3pm after a phone call was received claiming there was a bomb in Swale House.

Police investigated the building but about an hour later employees were being led back to the offices.

Workers at nearby offices were also evacuated, although traffic in the area was not stopped.

Swale Borough Council has different alarm systems for fire and bomb threats and a spokesman said: "It was definitely the bomb alert that was activated."