A suspected burglar is being sought by police after armed officers swooped on a rural house.

Police were called to the property off Staplehurst Road, Marden , at around 12.15pm yesterday after receiving reports it was being ransacked .

Armed officers and forensics experts were sent to the scene, and the police helicopter was scrambled in an unsuccessful bid to locate the suspect.

Staplehurst Road was closed in both directions between The Stile Bridge and the Millbrook Garden Centre while the operation took place.

A spokesman for Kent Police said: "Officers attended the scene and searched for the suspect with assistance from a police helicopter.

"The suspect remains outstanding and enquiries into the circumstances surrounding the incident are ongoing."

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