Police have arrested a man in connection to reports of a van being left on the seafront for several weeks.

Officers were sent to The Leas in Minster, Sheppey, just before 10am where a 33-year-old man was detained on suspicion of criminal damage and illegal parking.

There had been complaints a van had been parked in the mouth of the junction to the road, near The Beach and The Little Oyster for as long as a month.

A police spokesman said: "Officers are investigating following reports of criminal damage and illegal parking in The Leas, Minster, which are reported to have happened on November 8 and November 18, 2019.

"A 33-year-old man, of no fixed address, has been arrested on suspicion of criminal damage.

"He remains in custody as enquiries continue."

Kent County Council (KCC) is responsible for that part of the road.

A KCC spokesman said: "We have taken the appropriate legal action to begin the process of having the vehicle removed from the highway, but this is a complex case and removal may take longer than usual."

Neighbours had complained about antisocial behaviour with some saying CCTV cables had been removed, causing damage of about £500.

There were also concerns that the vehicle was not taxed and did not have an MOT, since it was thought to have arrived in October.

A resident, who did not want to be identified, added: "It's like the film The Lady in the Van, we've got our own man in a van."

He was released while an investigation continues.

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