A man is fighting for his life in hospital as five people have been charged following a brawl in the centre of Chatham.

Police were called to The Brook at 2.19am on Thursday to a report of a disturbance involving a number of people.

One man aged 28 was stabbed in the leg but has since been discharged from hospital.

A second man aged 69 was assaulted during the incident. His condition has since deteriorated and his injuries are now described as being life-threatening.

He is currently in the intensive care unit of a London hospital.

It was initially thought a third man had been injured but police have now confirmed this was not the case.

Seven people have been arrested in connection with the incident and police have said they are not looking for anyone else at this time.

Jason Holmes, 44, from Sheerness; Barry Pozzoli, 28, from Chatham; and Aaron Smith, 21, from Chatham, have all been charged with causing grievous bodily harm in relation to the injured 69-year-old.

Ricky Blackwell, 23, from Swanscombe, has been charged with causing grievous bodily harm in relation to the injured 28-year-old, as well as to another man in a separate incident in Swanscombe.

Holmes, Pozzoli and Blackwell are due to appear before Medway magistrates today. Smith is due to appear tomorrow.

Ben Coulson, 26, from Strood, has been charged with two counts of criminal damage relating to a smashed car windscreen and a cell door at Medway Police Station.

He has been bailed to appear before Medway magistrates on Tuesday, October 11.

A 69-year-old man arrested on suspicion of affray remains on bail until Friday, October 7.

A 17-year-old girl who was also arrested has been released without charge.

A 22 year-old woman from Chatham was arrested on suspicion of perverting the course of justice, in relation to the incident, but was also later released without charge.