Officers have released a man without charge after reports of a weapon sparked a huge armed response at a traveller site.

Police surrounded two mobile homes in the area just off Vauxhall Road in Canterbury – with dogs, a helicopter and a drone scrambled to the scene.

The drama saw at least eight armed officers and seven police cars called to the area at 3.20pm on Monday.

Firearms officers surrounded two static homes while travellers stood and watched the response unfold, seemingly unaware of what had triggered the callout when asked by our reporter at the scene.

Suspected air weapons were recovered from the site, although the suspect was not at home.

But moments after armed police left at about 6.30pm, they arrested a man in nearby Broad Oak Road, outside Lobster Van Hire.

“The arrested man was later released without charge,” a police spokesman said.

“Inquiries into the circumstances are ongoing.”

The response was sparked by reports a person was seen with what appeared to be a weapon behind a gated area in Vauxhall Road, Canterbury.