A police helicopter joined officers searching for men in a van on the Isle of Sheppey on Sunday night.

Police were called to a report that a group of people had been acting suspiciously outside business premises on The Esplanade in Sheerness before climbing into a white van and driving off.

When the van failed to stop for police in Queenborough Road officers called in a National Police Air Service helicopter to search the Island.

A police spokesman said: "A pursuit took place and the vehicle was eventually found abandoned in Kent Avenue, Minster. Enquiries to identify the occupants are ongoing."

The drama unfolded just before 10pm.

Residents could hear sirens as police tried to stop the van.

Early reports on social media that there had been an armed robbery at a shop in Halfway were dismissed by the spokesman.

The helicopter, with a searchlight, was seen hovering over Minster, Sheerness and Queenborough during the chase.

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