An investigation has been launched following the discovery of 11 rifles which had been dumped in a bag.

The guns were found close to the River Medway in Rochester on Thursday morning.

A police firearms team was called to the Esplanade at 10.41am after a passer-by dialled 999 to report finding the bag and its contents.

Firefighters from Strood were called to the scene to help police officers retrieve the bag,which was perched on a ledge close to the water.

When the bag was handed over, officers discovered it contained 11 bolt action rifles, possibly .303 rifles of the kind used by Army cadets for training.

Det Chief Inspr Jon Sutton said: "Officers were sent to the scene to make the rifles safe and bring them back to Medway Police Station.

"An investigation is now under way to establish where they have come from."