Loud bangs heard by residents in Gravesend turned out to be a cannon fired in a garrison salute for the Marco Polo which left Tilbury Docks last night.

Speculation was rife on social media after explosion like booms were heard from the Thames between Tilbury and Gravesend.

A spokesperson from the Tilbury Fort confirmed that the noises came from a member of the Garrison Artillery Volunteers firing off a canon in salute to the Marco Polo vessel, which left the docks for a long voyage at around 10.30pm.

The salute was fired from near the passenger terminal along the sea wall as the boat departed.

The Marco Polo cruise liner, which carries up to 800 guests, takes passengers departing from Tilbury on round-trip voyages to as far as Canada.

On social media residents who heard the loud bangs questioned whether they were fireworks, controlled explosions or the result of officers at the Met Police training centre in Gravesend.

Residents also reported the smell of burning and shaking walls during the salute, whilst a video posted on social media showed the bright flashes seen across the Thames as the canon was fired.