A 16-year-old boy has been arrested after a dumper truck ploughed through a school fence ending a destructive run through a quiet village.

Police had to blow out the tires on the piece of stolen heavy machinery using stingers before it crashed through the wire fence of Cornwallis Academy in Hubbards Lane, Linton, near Maidstone.

A low speed pursuit ended in the peaceful country lane in the early hours of this morning. The boy remains in custody while officers continue their investigation.

The truck also knocked over a row of bollards outside Fusion Healthy Living Centre in Cobb Way, Park Wood.

Residents living in nearby Heath Road were woken up in the night by police cars and saw flashing lights as they looked out their windows.

One, Lorraine Doherty, said: "Something woke me and I looked out the window and saw the flashing lights and about three or four police cars.

"It was about 3am and they were there for some time."

Another neighbour who has lived in the area for 12 years says the village is normally a quiet place and believes this is the first incident of its kind in Coxheath.

Police tweeted about the incident saying the driver had left "a trail of destruction" in their wake.

A large portion of the school's fence has been torn down and mangled.

Aside from the tyres, the truck isn't damaged.

The wreckage and pavement has been cordoned off.

Pupils at Cornwallis Academy broke up for the summer holidays last Thursday.

Read more: All the latest news from Maidstone.