Armed police descended on a residential road to help with an investigation into money laundering, it has been revealed.

National Crime Agency (NCA) officers led the operation in Dene Holm Road, Northfleet, yesterday afternoon, during which a family were taken out of a house one by one.

Reporters at the scene were told that the response "concerned the arrest of a number of individuals within the UK", but that it was "not terrorism related".

Now the NCA has confirmed the incident was connected to a number of other operations in other parts of the country.

A spokesman said: “NCA officers have arrested three men and one woman in Wakefield in relation to suspected money laundering offences.

“Our officers are searching premises in Kent with support from armed and local officers, and premises in Huddersfield also supported by local officers. As this is an ongoing operation we’re unable to comment further.”

The NCA also raided a separate property in an unknown area of the county as part of the same operation.

A spokesman refused to disclose the location.