Police were called after two suspicious suitcases sparked a bomb scare at a church in West Malling this morning.

But the cases turned out to be nothing more than an innocent donation of hundreds of music cassette tapes.

Rev David Green said members of St Mary's Church in High Street had come to the end of their prayer service at about 11am when a parishioner spotted two black suitcases sitting at the back of the church under the organ loft.

The cases were secured with combination locks and could not be opened. Mr Green said: "We didn't know what they were or what was in them so we called the police.

"Sometimes things like this happen when people leave things for the church to use This might be food or blankets. But two locked black suitcases were a different kettle of fish.

"If there had been something in them it would have brought down the loft and half the building."

Police arrived and Mr Green and two other parishioners waited outside while officers investigated.

They found hundreds of tapes of organ and a classical music.

Mr Green said he is not sure what to do with the generous donation as the church does not have a cassette player.

He said: "We will have to see if any other groups want them or else unfortunately they could end up on the landfill."

Kent Police press officer Steve Knight, said: "Kent Police was called at 10.59am on Tuesday 3 November to St Mary’s Church in High Street, West Malling, after concern was raised about two suspicious packages.

"Officers attended and by 11.10am it was established that there was no cause for concern."