AN ELDERLY female pedestrian suffered serious injuries when she was knocked down by a bus in a Kent town centre yesterday afternoon.

Police were called to the scene at Chatham's Pentagon shopping centre at about 12.10pm.

The woman was taken to the Medway Maritime Hospital at Gillingham, where her condition is described as "serious but stable".

Police closed the Pentagon bus station and staff inside prevented shoppers from leaving the upper floor of the shopping centre.

There were traffic tailbacks as buses were held on the Sir John Hawkins Way flyover and taxis were diverted away from the town centre.

Crowds of shoppers were kept waiting for buses as a limited service ran from Military Road and the Brook. Bus drivers were on-hand to answer questions and take people to the correct bus stop.

Normal service resumed at 3.30pm.