Armed police and around 15 police cars descended on a Dartford road at rush hour causing traffic chaos and alarmingly residents.

Eyewitnesses at the scene in St Vincent’s Road reported seeing “up to 10 marked police cars and up to five unmarked cars” swooping on a small white car just before 3pm.

Oficers arrested two men in the road – one on suspicion of possessing a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence.

One neighbour said: “It all happened so quickly but I saw the police cars coming from Watling Street and London Road and within seconds the small white car was surrounded by marked and unmarked cars.

“The armed police were out and shouting ‘armed police, don’t move’.

“They got the driver out first and handcuffed him. Then the passenger was told the same and was also cuffed.

“Then they were both put in marked cars.”

A police spokesman said: “An 18-year-old was detained on suspicion of possessing a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence.

“The second man, aged 34, was arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply class B drugs and the possession of a weapon after a hammer and cannabis were seized from a vehicle.”

Inquiries are ongoing.