There was a huge emergency response in a town centre after a “suspicious object” was spotted in a river.

Police and fire crews were called to the River Medway, near Broadway in Maidstone, shortly after 8.15pm yesterday.

Kent Fire and Rescue Service confirmed it was called to reports of a person potentially in the water.

A police spokesperson added: “Officers were called to a report of a suspicious object submerged in the River Medway.

“Officers attended to assist Kent Fire and Rescue Service and the item was later identified as a quantity of scrap metal.”

A Kent Fire and Rescue spokesperson confirmed that two fire engines attended.

They added: “The object was identified to be part of a bicycle.”