A man has been arrested by police after a teaching assistant was found dead at her home.

Police made the arrest after a massive manhunt, which has now become a murder inquiry.

Teaching assistant Caroline Andrews, 52 - believed to be a mother of four - was found at her bungalow in The Street, Benenden.

She was a teaching assistant at Benenden Primary School, where colleagues described her as a "lovely" woman and said they were all devastated.

A woman who worked at the school, who asked not to be named, said: "She was just lovely, one of the nicest people you could wish to meet.

"She worked as a teaching assistant doing crafts and all sorts with the younger ones. Everyone liked her.

"We are all totally devastated."

Police today confirmed the 54-year-old man was located in the London area this afternoon and taken to a hospital for treatment to injuries. Police confirmed this morning that his condition in non-life-threatening.

The county-wide manhunt was launched yesterday afternoon, after the body of Mrs Andrews was found at her house in the village.

The discovery led to to dozens of armed police storming a train at Gillingham station.

Police were spotted at Dover Priory station, as officers continue to scour the rail network.

A police spokesman said: "Kent Police was called at 4.20pm on Thursday, 4 February following the death of a woman at an address in The Street, Benenden.

"The death is being treated as suspicious.

"Searches have been carried out since the afternoon of 4 February throughout parts of Kent, as well as the rail network and are on-going.

"Next of kin have been notified of the death."

Today, villagers have been reacting to the drama on their doorstep.

Mark Barron-Reid, 57, landlord of The Bull in Benenden, said police came into the pub last night and asked if anyone had come in to the premises "in a distressed state".

He added: "No one knows what's happened. It all sounds a bit gory."

Karen Callaghan, who lives in the village, said people were upset over what had unfolded, adding: "It is a close-knit village. Everyone knows everyone. It is worrying that he is on the loose."

Another woman, who works in Benenden, said there were up to six police cars near the village green last night, along with dog handlers.

She said: "There was police around last night. We were absolutely swarming with them, so we knew something serious had happened.

"People have been talking about it this morning, but everything seems quite hush hush."

It comes after reports police descended on Marden yesterday afternoon.

A woman who works at the village Post Office said she was scared every time the door opened after hearing the reports.

The police helicopter was also seen hovering over Marden yesterday evening, before being spotted over Faversham, the Isle of Sheppey and Thanet.

Residents said the aircraft was flying low over the village and there were a number of officers in the area.