A SERIES of dawn raids by Kent police has resulted in six men being arrested in a major operation to free a man believed to have been kidnapped.

Kent officers teamed up with the National Crime Squad and other agencies to carry out the raids early this morning. The man was freed at an address in Gravesend.

The six arrested men are now being questioned at different police stations across the county.

Police say a man in his 20s, who they believe was being kept against his will, has been taken into protective police custody.

A firearm was also found during the operation.