A major rescue operation involving several emergency services has been ongoing this evening.

The coastguard helicopter was spotted hovering over Folkestone at about 7pm.

Video: Coastguard helicopter spotted above Folkestone. Credit: @mollymeath__/Twitter

Specialist paramedic crews were called and have been seen in the Crete Road East area close to the hills north of the town.

The helicopter landed in nearby fields where awaiting ambulance medics were waiting to treat the patient, who is understood to be a man.

Unconfirmed reports suggest he had suffered a broken ankle while out walking in the hills and needed to be winched out after getting trapped.

A spokesman for the coastguard said: "At 5.53pm on August 2, the HM Coastguard search and rescue helicopter from Lydd was sent to rescue an injured casualty at Folkestone.

"The casualty was winched from the scene and passed into the care of the ambulance service."

Read more: All the latest news from Folkestone