The hunt for suspected kidnappers and a rapist in Kingsdown has been stopped because the incident did not happen, police have said.

Officers combed the area between Kingsdown and Walmer in a bid to trace the culprits after allegations were made in the beginning of February.

Chief Inspector Ken Elmes, area commander of Deal and Dover, said: "Officers are still going to be working to establish what was behind the allegation, but they are not investigating a kidnap or rape."

A young woman reported that she was forced into a car at the junction of Prince of Wales Terrace and Sondes Road between 6am and 8am on Sunday, February 5.

From there she told police she was taken to Kingsdown by two men and allegedly raped in the vehicle by one of them.

For more information. See next week's East Kent Mercury