A teenage boy has been arrested in connection with a town centre disturbance which involved a confrontation between two armed gangs.

It marks the eighth arrest following the incident, which happened on Tuesday afternoon in Ashford's County Square shopping centre.

Officers were called to the mall at 1.30pm following reports two groups of people were causing a disturbance.

According to witnesses, the gang rampaged through the centre while flashing knives and a machete.

But those involved had dispersed before police arrived and a search was carried out by foot and air - with a helicopter circling the town.

No injuries were sustained but three knives were later seized by officers.

A series of arrests followed, with one 17-year-old boy from Ashford having now been charged in connection with the incident.

He is due to appear at Canterbury Youth Court on Monday.

Two 17-year-old boys and a 19-year-old man from Ashford who were arrested have since been released on bail and a 26-year-old man from London released under investigation.

The remaining two people arrested were released without charge.

But last night police made an eighth arrest and took a 19-year-old man from the town into custody on suspicion of affray.

Yesterday, police and staff from Ashford Borough Council searched the Memorial Gardens, in Church Road, as part of the investigation.

The park was closed to members of the public while officers searched for weapons.

But a tweet from police revealed nothing had been found.

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