A have-a-go hero came to the rescue of police in a high street as they struggled to arrest a man.

The passer-by stopped his van to help two officers who were trying to handcuff a suspect as he allegedly lashed out at them in Canterbury city centre.

The incident happened in St Peter's Place, after police were called following reports of a drunken man verbally abusing members of the public.

But as they struggled to detain the man, help came from a passing landscape gardener who lay on the suspect while officers managed to handcuff him.

"It was just a spur of the minute thing because the officers were clearly struggling and it seemed to be getting out of hand," he said.

"I couldn't just stand idly by and not help."

A police spokesman said: "At around 2.45pm on Saturday, March 5, officers on patrol in Canterbury city centre were alerted to an intoxicated man being verbally abusive to members of the public.

"The officers approached the man and attempted to escort him to a nearby taxi rank, only for them to be reportedly assaulted by him in St Peter’s Place.

"He was subsequently arrested with assistance from a member of the public."

Jason Lloyd, 55, of Parham Close, Canterbury, was later charged with three counts of assaulting an emergency worker and bailed to appear at Folkestone Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, March 23.