Armed police have this afternoon swooped on a busy town centre street after receiving reports of a man with a weapon.

Officers descended on Tontine Street in Folkestone shortly after 3pm and onlookers watched from overlooking homes and workplaces as a suspect was taken into custody.

Armed police in Folkestone this afternoon

One eyewitness said: "I heard loads of screaming and shouting before looking out the window to see a unit of armed police pointing their weapons and tasers at the individual in the brown coat.

"Shortly after another two units of armed officers arrived as support.

"They then went on to search the individual and used evidence bags to put some belongings taken off of him into.

"I also saw what looked like officers in the building opposite, possibly searching the building or using it as a visual point."

A force spokesman said: "At 3.06pm, Kent Police was called to a report that a man had been seen with a weapon at a property in Tontine Street, Folkestone.

"Patrols remain in the area, carrying out enquiries to establish the circumstances of the incident."

A 46-year-old man from Dover was arrested in connection with the incident and taken into custody.

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