Guests and staff were evacuated from a Medway hotel after white powder was found in a room.

The area immediately surrounding the guesthouse, in Balmoral Road, Gillingham was sealed off for three hours on Wednesday.

Chemical experts were called in to determine what exactly the powder was before the all-clear was given.

The emergency services, including fire crews, and the ambulance service, were called out to the scene shortly before 2pm.

A spokesman for Kent Fire and Rescue Service, said:“We were called out at 2.29pm by police to a business in Balmoral Road.

“It was not clear at first what we were dealing with.

“Our mobile unit, which is basically a chemical testing unit, was sent to the scene to determine exactly what the chemical is.”

A spokesman for Kent Police added: “Some white powder was found in a room within the hotel.

“The road was sealed up and the immediate area closed down.

“The ambulance service were called as a precaution.”

A spokesman for Kent Police added:“The powder was determined to be non suspicious and the emergency services left the scene shortly after 5.10pm.”