Armed officers and a police helicopter were out searching for a man “with a possible weapon” last night.

Witnesses said they heard the helicopter circling above houses in Sittingbourne from just before 9pm until around midnight with rumours suggesting they were looking for a man with a gun.

One neighbour, who did not want to be named, said: “The helicopter was out for about an hour last night from 9.30pm onwards.

“I went out to see if I could see anything, only to return to find an armed police response car parked near my house.”

A police spokesman said: “We were called at 8.54pm on Monday, September 9 to a report of a man seen with a possible weapon in Canterbury Road, Sittingbourne.

“Officers, including armed officers, attended the area and carried out a local search, however the suspect was not located.

Inquiries are ongoing to locate him.