A number of armed police officers were called to Kent's international station this evening hunting for a "suspicious man".

Kent Police were told the suspect had got on the train at Tonbridge just before 5.30pm, and decided to search the service when it reached Ashford.

However, despite boarding the train officers could not find the man, and are still looking for him.

Train passengers suggested the target of the raid may have got off at Paddock Wood, but this has not been confirmed.

An eyewitness, who asked to remain anonymous, told KentOnline: "The train stopped short of the station for around 5-7 mins at a red light.

"Once at the station the train was boarded by a number of armed police and more were walking alongside down the platform.

"After another 5-10 mins we were told an incident had been resolved, but hadn't heard much else about it before then.

"The police remained on the platform whilst passengers boarded the train and moved away.

"We were then told over the tannoy that someone had boarded the train at Tonbridge, and the personnel who boarded the train weren't to know that someone had departed at Paddock Wood.

"It was fairly unsettling to see numerous armed police board the train, especially at an international station in times like this."

The armed officers have now left the station.

A police spokesman said: "Kent Police received a report of a suspicious male boarding a train at Tonbridge train station.

"As part of their enquiries, armed officers were authorised to search the train when it reached Ashford International Station.

"No persons matching the description of the male were found and enquiries are ongoing."