Huge numbers of police have been combing the area near a supermarket after a man was shot.

Police officers, forensics and a marine search unit have been searching the underpass near Sainsbury’s since last night.

The footpath leading to the River Len in Romney Place, Maidstone, was shut off by police at the entrance near The Mall bus station and the one at the bottom of Square Hill.

Officers were called at around 9pm after reports a man had been injured in nearby Ashford Road.

On arrival, they discovered a man who had been shot in the leg. He was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

A police spokesman said: “No weapon has been found.

“As part of the police investigation, a search has been carried out in an underpass near Wat Tyler Way and a cordon remains in place while officers establish the full circumstances of the incident.

“No arrests have been made at this time.”

One woman who lives nearby but didn’t want to be named said: “There was a lot of commotion last night just before 10.

“We could hear a helicopter overhead but had no idea what it was for but it sounded low. It was making the house shake.”

While a neighbour added: “I had no idea someone had been shot. My daughter heard the sirens and all of a sudden there were blue flashing lights. We went to Sainsbury’s this morning and saw the underpass had been taped off.”

Four police vehicles and a dozen officers and forensics were at the scene this morning. They had left by 4pm.

Anyone with information, or relevant footage, who may have been in the area around the time of the incident, is urged to call 999, quoting reference 29-1243.