KENT Police say the contents of a jar removed from a flat in Faversham Road, Kennington, near Ashford, on Wednesday posed no risk to the public.

It was thought to have contained a potentially hazardous radioactive substance and led to a full-scale alert.

But police say analysis of the jar has revealed it contained "a granite type rock that has a natural background radiation signature".

A spokeswoman added: "The level of radiation posed no risk to the public."

The emergency services had been alerted by a gas man who found the jar in a cupboard under the stairs in the flat.