How many policemen does it take to get a security man out of a van?

That was the question people in Twydall Green were asking when a cash delivery driver got himself stuck inside his van.

Shoppers couldn't believe what they were seeing when the drama unfolded - police who came to help managed to get themselves stuck in the van as they were trying to free him.

The incident was caught on camera by Craig Scott, 21, who was working in the area at the time. Craig said it was one of the funniest things he'd seen.

He said: "At first we didn't realise what had happened, the alarm on the van was shouting out 'this van is under attack, please call the police, please call the police'. Me and a colleague just thought it was a malfunction, but then I could see the van moving and knew someone was inside."

It was at that point that people realised the security driver was indeed trapped inside as security measures on the vans had locked doors and windows and an escape hatch on the roof. The alarm being activated alerted police to the problem and when they arrived at the scene two officers tried to get the guard out.

Craig added: "One managed to find a way into the escape hatch and got inside to see if the guard was OK, but then shut the hatch and got stuck himself.

"His colleague then somehow managed to get to the front of the van to try and free the pair, but she got stuck in the driver's seat as the doors would not open.

"Then lots of coppers turned up and started laughing, but after about 15 minutes one of them had managed to get through to the security company and I believe some sort of pass code was activated to disable the alarm and all were then able to get out. The guard was fine and the police left laughing their heads off."

Another woman who also saw everything happen, but didn't want to be named, added: "I thought it was some sort of secret filming comedy programme, like Trigger Happy TV. I kept thinking some TV presenter and a camera crew will come along in a minute.

"It was hilarious, it was like a scene out of the Keystone Cops."

A spokesman for Medway Police said: "Patrols attended the scene and established the driver of the van was trapped inside, as a result of what was believed to be an electrical failure.

"Officers attempted to release the man but were unable to free him. The security company were able to reset the electronics and the alarm, and the driver was able to get out of the van."