Five men have been arrested in a city park following reports of an armed robbery involving knives and a hammer.

The suspects were picked up in Dane John Gardens in Canterbury and have been taken into custody.

It is alleged that two men were armed with knives and a third with a hammer during the robbery.

Police have yet to reveal details of where the incident took place but say a police dog was involved in the arrests.

The arrests come months after claims the park has descended into a state of lawlessness from residents who called a crisis meeting with police and council officials.

People living near the Dane John Gardens said incidents – including vandalism, fighting, drug abuse and drunken disturbance – had spiralled out of control.

The picturesque city centre site once boasted Green Flag status after being enhanced with a £1 million lottery grant in 2003 but, in a dramatic fall from grace, it has since been the scene of a string of crimes, including a brutal killing, an attempted rape and a violent gang attack.

More as we get it.