Hollywood actor Tom Cruise flew into the county twice this week to film scenes for his latest blockbuster movie.

In the hope he would be returning for a third day, our reporter Alex Langridge headed to Chatham to see if she could meet the Mission: Impossible star.

"Your mission if you chose to accept it... is to go and camp out near the Historic Dockyard and wait for Tom Cruise," said my editors at 9am.

Being a bit of a fan I couldn't say no, so just before 4pm I ran out of the office in my best Mission: Impossible impression and headed to Dock Road.

The star's private helicopter had been spotted landing on the green space behind Gun Wharf on Tuesday and Wednesday evening.

Videos showed the chopper flying over the Rochester stretch of River Medway, and descending next to the Medway Council building at around 4.30pm.

Not knowing if he would be back for a third day, I decided to wait in the same place he had landed with my fingers crossed.

And it turned out I was not the only one with this idea.

Singer and "super-fan" Sammy J had roped her friends Sandra Johnson and Paul Muscat in to sit and wait for the action man to arrive.

The trio had been there since 2pm just in case he came earlier than previous days.

Sammy, who had travelled all the way from Sidcup in the hope of seeing her idol, said: "I could not come yesterday so I thought I would try today.

"I found out late Tuesday when Paul sent me the KentOnline article about him landing.

"He knows I am a big fan as all over my Facebook is always Tom Cruise. I only really got into his films during lockdown and ended up watching them all.

"I just fell for him. I do not know what I would say if I met him. I would turn into Bridget Jones.

"I probably would just ask for a picture and say 'I have always wanted to meet you'."

As we chatted away discussing his iconic moments, I waited for a text from my bosses letting me know the helicopter was on its way.

Former Stars In Yours Eyes contestant Sammy said her favourite films are the Mission: Impossible series but in particular Ghost Protocol.

Gillingham resident Paul said he does like some of his '80s classics while Sandra admitted she just came for a day out and some fresh air.

I recalled the months where my mum made me watch one Tom Cruise film each week – particular highlights were Cocktail and A Few Good Men.

It was nearing 5pm and we were starting to lose hope as the online flight radars we were religiously checking were turning up blank.

The sun was setting, the wind was picking up and every noise was making us jump and look into the empty sky.

At around 5.15pm, the trio called it a day but I persisted for another half hour before reluctantly abandoning my post.

It is still not known if the illusive actor later arrived in Chatham but a passer-by told me it looked as though the film crews' lighting rigs at the Dockyard has been taken down.

Details on what the latest movie is and whether it is connected to filming at Sheppey's Kingsferry Bridge have not been forthcoming.

Mission failed...