Residents were told to stay indoors after armed police swooped on a house in Rushenden last night.

Officers started arriving at Rushenden Road at about 8pm.

Witnesses said there were at least 15 police who were 'heavily' armed.

The road was not shut off to traffic, but a number of properties were blocked off so inquiries could be carried out.

Alison Backshall, who lives in the road, said she was first made aware of the drama after two of her four children came running in saying there were police by her back door.

"There were armed police literally everywhere, I have never seen so many," she said.

"I don't know what they were looking for but they didn't take anyone.

"The kids were pretty scared - the police told us to get straight back inside.

"It was a bit of a shock" - Alison Backshall

"The kids were pretty scared - the police told us to get straight back inside.

"It was a bit of a shock."

Mrs Backshall said the woman next door to her, who is pregnant, was brought out at gun point with her three young children.

"She was pretty scared - I don't think she knew what was going on," she added.

"She came out in her pyjamas with her children all ready for bed."

A Kent Police spokesman said it was a pre-planned operation but no-one was arrested and they left the scene between 9pm and 10pm.

They refused to release more information, as it is a live investigation.