A busy shopping centre had to be evacuated yesterday after a small fire started in a staff toilet.

Firefighters were called to the Royal Victoria Place shopping centre, in Tunbridge Wells, at 3.20pm and the complex was fully evacuated at the same time.

The sprinkler system inside the room, which was in the centre's basement service area, activated immediately and this prevented the fire spreading.

No injuries were suffered but the cause of the fire is not known.

Fire crews left the scene at 5pm and are investigating how it started.

Station manager Andrew Strand, who attended the incident, said: "The fire and evacuation procedures were carried out swiftly and professionally.

"This meant everyone was out before crews arrived at the scene, which allowed them to deal with the confirmed fire quickly."