A man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder following a stabbing in Maidstone.

An 18-year-old was taken to a London hospital after the incident which happened outside KFC in Week Street near the junction with Station Road.

His injuries are not life threatening.

The attack happened between 8.45pm and 8.55pm on Saturday.

At 3.40am officers arrested a suspect, aged 20, at an address in Thamesmead, London. He was taken into custody.

Officers were still at the scene on Sunday morning and were seen making a search of rubbish bins in nearby Station Road and also launched a drone to fly above at about 8am.

A close friend of the victim, who doesn't want to be named, had been with him earlier in the evening.

He said: "We split up. I went to see some mates in Brenchley Gardens and he went to KFC to meet some of his other friends.

"As soon as I heard about the stabbing I rushed over there."

He said: "It seems he had just been standing outside KFC with two mates when someone came up to him and pulled out a knife."

The victim was stabbed in the neck, leg and body, before his attacker ran off, his friend said.

He was taken by land ambulance to Maidstone Hospital and then airlifted to London.

The friend also travelled to the hospital fearful for the victim's life.

He said: "We sat around there 'til about 2am, when the doctors told us he was now stable and we should go home."

One man watching the police investigation this morning observed: “What is happening to Maidstone? It used to be such a quiet place, but it’s constant trouble now.”

Another said: “This side of town is frightening now, there seems to be something going wrong every weekend. It’s the part of town you want to avoid now.”

Police are urging witnesses to come forward.

Anyone with information, who is yet to contact Kent Police, is urged to call 01622 604100, quoting reference 46/76506/22.

You can also contact Crimestoppers, anonymously, by calling 0800 555111 or using the anonymous online form.