A man is still being hunted after an airgun was allegedly stolen from a house near Canterbury.

Police dogs and the force helicopter were used to look for a man in the Thanington area of the city yesterday afternoon.

The weapon is said to have been stolen from a house in Woodville Close at around 1.30pm.

Kent Police said the investigation is ongoing, but there is no cause for alarm.

The suspect is thought to have been seen with the weapon near the Thanington resource centre, sparking the huge manhunt.

Six police cars, two dog units and the helicopter – which landed in the nearby playing fields - were seen at the scene at 3.30pm.

Stephen Hemstock, who lives 200 yards from Thanington recreation ground, saw the helicopter hovering near the resource centre.

He said: "I went out the back of my house for a cigarette and saw it take off and start hovering over the playing fields before flying off.

"Then I heard a load of sirens, but didn’t know what was going on."