Armed Met police officers stopped a car in Maidstone last night, causing widespread panic.

Despite reports gun fire had been heard, now — seven hours later — the Met have confirmed no one was arrested, no firearms were seized and no one was injured.

For operational reasons they are not prepared to go into further details.

Video shows the police outside Hart Street in Maidstone

Hart Street, near the Lockmeadow entertainment complex, was closed outside the Kingsfisher Meadow flats for much of this morning after officers swooped on a vehicle shortly before 11pm.

One neighbour told Kent Online: "My boyfriend was out and he spoke to police who told him to leave his car outside the cordon. It ran right up past Lockmeadow.

"All I could see were several flashing lights and they were unmarked cars and focussing on part of the Kingfisher Meadow block. No-one told us anything but I wondered if it was to do with drugs."