Thugs armed with a BB gun are marauding around east Kent.

Police believe the same people are responsible for shooting three people in Herne Bay on Wednesday night.

Officers also suspect they were behind three incidents of criminal damage in the town on the same night - plus other attacks in Canterbury, Wickhambreaux, Sturry and Bramling.

Sgt Elly Heard is leading the hunt for the culprits. She said: "We think that the eight incidents are linked. We're currently following a number of lines of enquiry, including examining CCTV footage and gathering forensic evidence.

"A number of witnesses have come forward with useful information - but due to the number of incidents and the distance between them I'm confident more people may have seen something that would be helpful to us."

One Herne Bay resident said: "We came down here to retire because we thought it would be peaceful - but we didn’t bank on all the thugs and yobs. Now we can’t wait get out of here."

Details of the attacks:

• Man suffered an injury to his eye while outside a pub in Mortimer Street;

• Man suffered an injury to his ear while outside a pub in Central Parade;

• Man suffered an injury to his wrist in Canterbury Hill;

• Man suffered an injury to wrist Kingsmead Road, Canterbury.

Details of the criminal damage:

• House window damaged in Fordwich Road, Sturry;

• House window damaged in Sea View Road, Herne Bay;

• Car damaged in Canterbury Road, Bramling;

• Car damaged in Clarenden Street, Herne Bay;

• House window damaged in The Street, Wickhambreaux;

• House window damaged in Beacon Hill, Herne Bay.

• Anyone with information is urged to call police on 01227 762055.