Viewers were left without local BBC news this evening after the offices were evacuated due to a fire alarm.

The call to evacuate the Great Hall Arcade in Tunbridge Wells, where the studio is based, came at a critical point, just before the live programme was due to go on air.

The alarm sounded at about 6.30pm, leaving BBC journalists unable to run the nightly news programme.

Instead, Kent viewers tuning in to local news were treated to BBC London.

Kent Fire and Rescue were called to the building but it is thought to have been a false alarm.

The BBC newsroom tweeted to say they hope to be back on air at 10.25pm.