Stunned shoppers saw police chase a man down a High Street, as he desperately tried to flee in a taxi.

The 33-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of theft from a shop.

Three police cars descended on Jubilee Square in Maidstone just before 5pm yesterday, as security followed a man running out of the entrance of The Mall.

Passers by saw him jump into a grey taxi parked outside Lush cosmetics, but the driver did not leave his spot.

Officers remained on the High Street to interview the cab driver.

Eyewitness Dan Sargent said: "He's running to the taxi, trying to get away, the police and security guards are trying to open the door, he's like kicking the door from the inside trying to get them away.

"Then they just swarmed on him, they just opened the door and just bundled on him."

A police spokesman confirmed that the man remains in custody while enquries continue.