A man was taken to a London hospital last night after suffering what are believed to be stab wounds.

The man in his 30s was injured near the recreation ground in Rectory Road, Sittingbourne, after 7pm.

Several emergency vehicles were called and the man was initially treated in an ambulance before being transferred to the air ambulance and flown to hospital.

Eyewitnesses say the man was conscious and gave onlookers a thumbs up as he was put in the helicopter.

Police were on the scene directing traffic.

A police spokesman said officers were called at 7.23pm to a report of a disturbance.

He said: "A man in his 30s suffered an injury consistent with a stab wound to his lower back and was airlifted to a London hospital.

"Officers attended the scene and continue to carry out enquiries into the circumstances behind the incident.

"There have been no arrests."

A spokesman for the Kent, Surrey and Sussex Air Ambulance said the helicopter medics were called to reports of an assault at 7.28pm.

The patient was airlifted to King’s College Hospital in London, which is a major trauma centre, at 8.24pm and arrived 20 minutes later.