Armed police surround a house in Greatstone. Picture: Peter Faulkner

by Sam Lennon

Armed police poured into a quiet village after a distressed man claimed he had a gun this morning.

The man, in a house, surrendered after a near-90 minute stand-off.

Firearms officers were called by the ambulance service to an address in Dunes Road, Greatstone, at about 11am.

Witnesses said they saw up to six marksmen, a dog unit and four ambulance vehicles.

A Kent Police spokesman said: "Police were called by South East Coast Ambulance Service to an address where there was concern for a man who was in a distressed state who said he had a gun.

"There was concern he could do himself and others harm.

"Firearms officers were set to the area while patrol officers tried to communicate with the man."