Police were called to reports a mum had slapped her daughter hard across the face and head in front of stunned shoppers.

A patrol car was sent to busy Rose Lane in Canterbury after a concerned member of the public alerted police on the 101 number.

She described the woman pushing the girl up against a wall before screaming at her and slapping her on Sunday afternoon.

The youngster was thought to be aged about 15.

A police spokesman said: “We were called at 4.12pm to a report concerns for a girl, believed to be a teenager, who had reportedly been hit by another woman.

“A search of the area was carried out by officers, and local CCTV operators were informed but neither were found.”