Two men have been formally cleared of a firearms offence following an incident in Smeeth in which armed police were called.

Myles Yarney, 36, and Steven McIntosh, 41, had pleaded not guilty to possessing a firearm on August 26 2008, assault causing actual bodily harm and affray.

Yarney, of North Road, Hythe, and McIntosh, of Bindon Blood, Whitfield, Dover, were due to stand trial at Maidstone Crown Court.

But today Friday the prosecution offered no evidence in relation to the charges and formal not guilty verdicts were entered.