Armed police were called to a town centre after fears that a man was carrying a gun.

They stopped him and found he was unarmed.

Firearms officers were called to Bank Street in Ashford at 8.10pm yesterday after a member of the public raised the alarm.

A Kent Police spokesman said: "A report came in of a man being in possession of what the caller thought could have been a gun.

"Firearms officers attended as a precaution and made enquiries. It turned out to be completely harmless."

The man had been tracked down by CCTV and officers stopped and searched him.

It was then clear he had no weapon and police classed the incident as a false alarm from a good intent call.