Five people have been arrested after staff had to lock down a Wetherspoon pub as a huge brawl broke out.

A man was taken to hospital after he suffered head injuries in a fight between two groups of punters outside The Thomas Ingoldsby in Canterbury.

One group had been inside the pub in Burgate and an argument started with another group outside the pub as they left.

Members of the two groups then attacked each other, throwing glasses and chairs, and a man suffered head injuries which required hospital treatment.

During the fracas, staff locked the doors of the pub in order to keep customers and colleagues safe, while managers and door staff remained outside until police arrived.

Officers were called to the incident on Sunday at about 6.30pm and officers have arrested five people.

A witness reported seeing eight police cars close to the pub, and said the scary incident left some tourists in the busy city 'horrified'.

A woman was also injured, but did not require hospital treatment.

Wetherspoon spokesman Eddie Gershon said: "We can confirm there was an incident outside the pub, between two groups of people.

"The groups started throwing glasses and chairs at each other.

"At that stage a member of staff locked the pub in order to keep customers and staff safe, whilst the manager, door staff and two other members of management stayed outside, and called for police assistance.

"The police arrived and dealt with the incident."

A 32-year-old man from the Ashford area and a 29-year-old man from the Maidstone area were both arrested on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm and have since been bailed.

A 28-year-old man and a 47-year-old woman, both from the Canterbury area, were both arrested on suspicion of violent disorder. The man has been bailed and the woman has been released under investigation.

A 25-year-old woman from the Herne Bay area was arrested on suspicion of affray and has since been bailed pending further enquiries.

Canterbury District Commander Ch Insp Mark Hedges said: "We are working to establish the full circumstances surrounding this concerning incident.

"I urge anyone who may have witnessed what happened, who has mobile phone or dashcam footage, or anyone with any information, to contact detectives as soon as possible so we can bring those responsible to justice."

Anyone with information should call police on 01843 222289, quoting reference 46/168092/22.

You can also call the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.