The man at the centre of an armed siege in a village has been released without charge, police have revealed.

He was arrested after armed police surrounded a house in Borstal earlier this year.

There had been reports a man had been seen brandishing a gun.

Armed officers surrounded the home in Brambletree Crescent, at about 1pm on Tuesday, January 10. The drama unfolded just yards from the village school.

Police blocked both entrances to the road and told people to stay away from the area as armed officers surrounded the semi-detached house.

Concerned residents stood by the cordons. The incident lasted until the early evening, but pupils at the nearby Pilgrim Primary School were allowed to leave the site as normal at the end of their classes.

At one point in the late afternoon, a man – thought to be the owner of the house – arrived at the scene and appeared shocked at what was unfolding.

He was heard telling the police officers guarding the scene there was no weapon in the house. An armed officer left the cordon to talk to him.

A short while later, at around 5.30pm, the officers were stood down.

The man, who is 28 and has has not been named, walked into Medway Police Station in Gillingham the next day and was arrested on suspicion of possessing an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence.

He was bailed pending further inquiries until February 19 and then had his bail extended again, until Monday, March 13.

A police spokesman said: “The man has been released without charge.”