A police helicopter assisted early this morning in the arrest of three men suspected of robbing a man just feet away from Maidstone Prison.

The victim, said by police to be 30 and from Maidstone, was robbed of a small amount of cash in Well Road at about 10.50pm on Sunday.

One of the robbers brandished a ball-bearing gun.

Just 90 minutes after the incident was reported, police took into custody three men from a property in Bluett Street, Maidstone, while the helicopter circled in the night sky.

Police said the three were aged 18, 27 and 30. They have not yet been charged.