A man's body was found in a town centre gardens this afternoon, leading to a huge police response.

St Andrew's Gardens, where West Street and Crooked Lane merge, has been taped off by police.

Six police cars and a paramedic car parked up in Crooked Lane and numerous police officers gathered in the grassy area close to the River Thames.

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Police have now confirmed the response was due to the discovery of a body.

A spokesman said: "Kent Police was called at 12.27pm following the discovery of a man's body near Royal Pier Road at Gravesend.

"Police officers and South East Coast Ambulance Service are at the scene where the death is not being treated as suspicious at this stage.

"Inquiries are on-going to identify the man and notify his next of kin."

An additional police car and another paramedic car were parked in Royal Pier Road, on the other side of the gardens.

A forensic van arrived at 1.25pm.

VIDEO: Huge police response at St Andrew's Gardens in Gravesend

A woman who lives in nearby flats said: "There was an ambulance here to begin with but it went away.

"They keep taping off more and more bits of the park and there's a red sheet under the trees."

The woman and a man both told our reporter at the scene the area is popular with young people and residents often have to put up with anti-social behaviour.