SHOCKED shoppers looked on as armed police officers swooped on a suspect in a Kent village with guns drawn.

The incident happened soon after 2pm on Wednesday in Birchington's Station Road, when unmarked police cars squealed to a stop and boxed in a silver Citroen Saxo.

Stewart Bartlett, who runs a jewellers opposite the arrest site, said: "It all happened so quickly. A silver car was parked outside Threshers wine shop in Station Road when four police cars raced up and boxed the vehicle in.

"Armed officers in plainclothes got a man out of the car and forced him to the path. He was held on the ground with guns including a rifle pointing at him. He was bundled into a car and taken away. He was dressed quite respectably."

The arrest was made by Kent Police's armed division on behalf of Sussex Police.

It is not yet known what suspected crime the man was wanted in connection with.