A road near a primary school was surrounded by armed police after a man pulled a gun from his waistband.

Firearms teams were called to Northwood Road, Whitstable – just yards from St Mary’s Catholic primary school - following reports the gunman had grabbed the weapon while ranting on a mobile phone yesterday.

A member of the public alerted police at 2.30pm and armed response vehicles were sent to the scene.

Intelligence was gathered and at 3pm officers went to a home believed to be the last known location of the man.

He was not found and there were no further sightings of him.

Police say a marked vehicle remained near the school to provide reassurance as parents picked their children up.

But this morning school head Elizabeth Leaman said they had not been made aware of what had been unfolding nearby.

The local intelligence unit is reviewing the incident.