The police helicopter was seen hovering over Bluewater helping officers on the ground search for someone thought to be carrying a gun.

Officers from Kent Police were called out at 2.40pm this afternoon to Chatham after someone reported they saw a person carrying a gun in a car in Mills Terrace.

The vehicle then left the area and the police helicopter was drafted in to help officers on the ground locate it.

One matching its description was found later in the afternoon just outside the Bluewater complex but no weapon was found and no one was arrested.

A spokesman for Kent Police said: “Kent Police was called at 2.40pm to reports that a person may have been seen carrying a weapon in a car in Mills Terrace, Chatham.

The vehicle left the area and a police helicopter assisted officers in a search to locate it.

“A vehicle which matched its description was later stopped in an area outside Bluewater.

“No weapon was found and no arrests were made.”