Armed police descended on a village in the early hours after reports someone had been seen with a weapon.

Officers raced to Staplehurst at around 1am today and searched a premises in the High Street.

A spokesman for Kent Police confirmed they had been called following "a report of a person with a weapon".

They added: "Officers, including armed patrols, attended the area and completed a search at a premises in the High Street. Nobody was arrested, no weapon was located and inquiries are under way into the alleged incident."

Police left around 6.30am.