Detectives investigating a spate of steering wheel thefts stretching back to last year have charged a man.

Since November, steering wheels have been stolen from BMWs, Mercedes and Audis in areas including Maidstone, Sevenoaks and Longfield.

Officers were called to Carroll Gardens in Larkfield just before 4am on Monday, after receiving a report two men were acting suspiciously in the area.

A search was launched and with the help of a police helicopter, a 27-year-old man, Ernestas Lukosevicius, was arrested on suspicion of theft from a motor vehicle.

Officers also seized tools and a BMW steering wheel from the scene.

Lukosevicius, of no fixed address, was later charged with conspiring to steal from motor vehicles between Monday, November 13 and Monday, March 12.

He is due to appear before Medway magistrates today (Tuesday) via video link.