Armed police swooped on a packed school bus after a man was allegedly heard bragging on the phone about a stabbing he had been involved in.

The number 72 Arriva bus was pulled over by the BP garage on London Road, Allington, at 4pm.

Four police cars, including an armed response unit, were sent to the scene after it was reported the man might have been carrying a knife.

He was questioned and searched but no weapon was found and he no arrests were made.

The bus was travelling between Maidstone and Kings Hill and was full of students from the surrounding schools at the time.

Arriva, which runs the service, has been approached for comment.

A Kent Police spokesman said: "We were called to reports of suspicious behaviour involving a man on a bus.

"It was reported that passengers on the bus believed the man may have in his possession a prohibited weapon, namely a knife. Police attended the scene and spoke to the man. He was not in possession of an offensive weapon and no offences were committed."