Police descended on a town centre after shoppers spotted a suspicious suitcase next to a bin.

Officers were called to Tenterden High Street close to the Webbs homeware store just before 12.30pm.

The black case, which still had a price tag showing, had been left next to a bin close to a busy pedestrian crossing.

A police spokesman said there was nothing suspicious about the item and that there was "no risk to the public".

Tenterden deputy town mayor Sue Ferguson saw police take the case away in a patrol car.

"I thought it may have been a drill as the police came and just picked it up," she said.

"There was no panic - it was just mild amusement really.

"Traffic wardens were stopping people walking past it, but it was a bit of a non-event."