Armed police swooped on a Chatham street on Sunday after reports that a firearm had been seen.

The officers went to a house in Ruth Street, off Magpie Hall Road, at about 12.30pm.

They had received information that a man at the house had been spotted with a firearm.

A cordon was put up in the area and the police helicopter hovered overhead while the operation was carried out.

One resident, who didn’t want to be named, said: “The first I knew of it was hearing the police helicopter which had been circling about five times and I asked my husband 'Why is it coming over here?’

“I then looked outside the front of the house and saw about four or five marked police cars.”

Police confirmed that a firearm was seized but no one was arrested.

Insp Tony Cannon, from Medway Police, said: “In this instance it has not been necessary to make any arrest.

“I know this will have caused some inconvenience to some members of the public, especially those living nearby, but we will always take reports of firearms seriously and act accordingly.”