Police launched an investigation after a woman claimed she was assaulted in the centre of Chatham.

The woman, who is in her 40s, told police she was assaulted in a secluded area of Chatham Riverside, very close to the Command House pub.

The incident is believed to have happened as she walked along a public footpath next to the River Medway on Wednesday morning. The path leads from the riverside area along the back of Gun Wharf, the new Medway Council offices, in Dock Road.

The area was cordoned-off by police at about 11.30am. Forensic officers arrived later to carry out a fingertip search of the area.

Officers will also be viewing CCTV images from the pub, which may help with the investigation.

One onlooker, who didn’t want to be named, said: “All of a sudden several police cars turned up and sealed off the pathway; we never saw what happened.”

Det Insp Geoff Payne said: “On Wednesday, at 11.30am Kent Police received a report of an alleged assault in the Dock Road area of Chatham. A 19-year-old man has been arrested, and a full investigation is under way.”