A KENT village became the centre of a six-hour police drama after it was claimed a woman had shot someone with a gun.

Armed police and other officers with dogs converged on Hoo Marina near Rochester to what was they thought was a hostage situation. A man in his sixties had called the police, telling them his ex-wife had shot someone.

Nearby residents watched as the armed officers surrounded the area and closed roads leading to the marina. An ambulance was also drafted in case of casualties.

But it was all a hoax. Mark Pugash, head of the Kent police press office, said: "A man called police saying his ex-wife had shot a man with a hand gun. There was a very large police operation going on.

“A man was arrested and apparently he has done this before. He is probably going to be charged.”