Armed police swooped on a residential street after a man was spotted with a gun.

Residents said they counted at least seven officers carrying weapons and training them on a house in Alma Road, Sheerness.

Mawunyo Graham, who took a video of the action, warned on Facebook: "Just a heads up to people returning back to Alma Road that all roads are closed for cars and no one is allowed to leave their homes."

Nearby Meyrick and Fonblanque Roads were also blocked preventing many residents from returning to their homes.

One witness said he saw officers getting ready in a lay-by near the Aldi distribution depot at Neats Court, Queenborough before "zooming off" with blue lights flashing.

Another said six police cars and a firearms vehicle were parked outside the Healthy Living Centre off Royal Road before the raid. Sniffer dogs were also deployed.

VIDEO: Police going into house. Filmed by Mawunyo Graham

Dad-of-five Andrew Farrar, 32, was at home when police called at his neighbour's house.

He said: "It was about 2.30pm. I saw an unmarked car pull up and then armed police got out. I could their laser sights aimed at my neighbour's front door so I went indoors.

"I saw my neighbour came out with his hands up but the police stayed for another hour, searching his house."

Mr Farrar was with three of his children Oliver, five, Arthur, three, and one-year-old Lily-Ann. The other two, Lucy, nine, and Emily, four, were shopping with his partner and could not get back home because the road had been cordoned off.

He said: "I was frightened for my children but the boys seemed intrigued and were watching through the front curtains. There were another three police cars up the road."

He said his neighbour, who has not been named, was normally "quiet and polite."

Police spokesman Richard Spillett said: "We were called at 2.10pm to a reported disturbance at a property in Alma Road, Sheerness.

"Patrols, including armed officers, attended following reports a person at the address may have been in possession of a weapon. Following a search of the property and an air rifle was recovered."

A man in his 50s was arrested and taken into custody but released on bail on Sunday.

Police say additional inquiries "are ongoing."

It is the fifth time armed officers have been deployed to the Island in less than 18 months.

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