First enemy air-raid attempt on Britain took place at about 6.30 am today. Germon bombers were driven off before bombs were dropped.

Enemy aircraft were reported near the East Coast, said the Ministry of Information.

"So far as is known, they did not penetrate our defences at any point, and no damage has been reported," it was added.

Several flights of planes were seen making for London, but it was impossible to tell whether they were British or German.

For a time all was quiet. Sun shone from a clear sky, and crowds of people stood outside their shelters gazing skywards.

Suddenly anit-aircraft guns opened fire and the sky was filled with smoke from shell bursts.

The sound of machine gun fire could be plainly heard. Some of the raiding planes were too high to be seen.

Air-raid warnings were sounded in London, Chatham and Southend-on-sea.

One man said that he saw six aeroplanes flying in two formations of three. They were fired at by anti-aircraft batteries and driven off. Later the six planes returned, but were again driven off.