A police officer who underwent emergency surgery after being hit over the head with a fire extinguisher while investigating a break-in has left hospital.

He was called to a disturbance at a derelict hotel in Cliftonville, Margate, on Friday.

The 30-year-old officer, who has served as a local response officer for six years, suffered head, neck and back injuries.

Police say there were at least three offenders in the building in Northdown Road and all escaped.

A crowd of more than 100 people gathered as the officer was stretchered unconscious into a waiting ambulance and taken to the QEQM Hospital at Margate.

He was discharged on Saturday.

Around a dozen police vehicles blocked off the road and traffic was diverted away from the scene.