The scene in Sea Street, Herne Bay

by Lauren Fruen

Armed police swooped on a house in Herne Bay last night (Saturday) after someone was spotted with what was believed to be a gun.

Around 10 police cars and armed police were seen at an address in Sea Street in the town yesterday evening.

Eye witnesses saw armed police, along with unmarked cars and the dog unit, surround the property at around 7pm.

Police were called after a member of the public saw what they believed to be a gun in a car.

Police then traced the car to the property in Sea Street where they found a man in possession of a BB gun.

The 30-year-old man from Herne Bay was given a caution for possession of an imitation firearm while a 26-year-old man and a 31-year-old man, both from Herne Bay, were arrested on suspicion of possessing an imitation firearm and were later released without charge.

Rachel Bellis, who lives in Sea Street, said: “We came out of the house and saw six police cars and the dog unit. The police had what looked like guns and tasers.

“We heard from our neighbour that it was all to do with a BB gun.

“The police were shouting if you are armed then make yourself known. They took away three males and I saw them speaking to a girl.”

Another neighbour, Matthew James, watched the drama unfold just three doors down from his home in the street.

He said: “I went out to put the bins out and it was all going on – there were police in the back alley too.

“I saw them going through a car outside the home.

“The police knocked on our door and said that they had a report of someone with a gun and that’s what led them here. They said it turned out to be a BB gun.

“The police shouted up that they were armed four or five times.”