There was a loud explosion which shook the windows of buildings in Ashford town centre this morning.

Pedestrians and office workers were stunned after the huge bang came from a bus at the junction of Park Street and Edinburgh Road just after 10am.

Despite fears there may have been an accident or a gas explosion, it emerged the bang had been the sound of the Stagecoach bus's tyre exploding.

It appears the rear side tyre may have brushed the kerb in Park Street before it burst.

There were no passengers on board the Stagecoach 1X service bus, which runs between Ashford and Canterbury

A recovery vehicle and mechanic arrived on the scene half an hour later.

Stagecoach operations director Neil Instrall said: "I would confirm that a double deck bus operating on our Service 1X did have a tyre blow in Park Street, Ashford this morning."