Punk band The Stranglers are due to play in Folkestone tonight - but their show started with a bang they were not expecting.

The Golden Brown singers' car exploded on the way to the gig at the Leas Cliff Hall.

They are playing at the venue as part of their 40th anniversary tour.

But they took to Twitter to tell their fans they were "four unhappy gentlemen".

The post said: "Band car blown up on way to Folkestone leaving four rather unhappy gentlemen... (gig is unaffected)."

A short time later, a second message featuring a picture of an RAC van said: "Don't panic Folkestone! The cavalry has arrived."

The Stranglers are one of the longest-surviving bands from the UK punk scene, with 17 UK top 40 albums in a career spanning four decades.

Hits include Golden Brown, No More Heroes, Peaches, Always the Sun and Skin Deep.