Armed police stormed a seaside holiday home early this morning.

They arrived in force in Joy Lane, Whitstable, at about 7.30am to what neighbours think was a suspected break-in at a detached house.

Officers could be heard shouting instructions to someone inside the house.

Next door neighbour Gary Carter, 57, said: "We we sat in our living room and heard lots of shouting.

"We didn't think anything of it and just assumed it was someone arguing.

"Then we looked out the window and there were six or seven armed police with guns and wearing balaclavas.

"I went out but I was told to go back in. We understand the house had been broken into and they took whoever it was away."

Mr Carter estimated the incident lasted about an hour and later realised the shouting was armed police giving instructions.

He says there were numerous police cars, some unmarked, at the scene.

Sam Gambrill who was out on an early morning walk, added: "There were armed police and least 15 normal officers as well as five or six plain-clothed officers in unmarked cars

"I could see a distressed young lady with a newborn in the back of one of the cars."

The house at the centre of the incident is believed to be a holiday let but has been empty due to the Covid-19 lockdown.

"It was a surprise and a bit of excitement for the kids," he added.

Another neighbour, who did not want to be named, said he saw the road had been sealed off by police at about 7.30am.

But he thinks he saw plain clothes police in the road at about 1am, adding:"It's very unusual for anything like this to happen around here."

Kent Police said the operation was conducted by the Metropolitan Police who have been contacted for further information.

The Met has since confirmed it arrested a 28-year-old man on suspicion of murdering a man in Whitstable this morning.

Read more: All the latest news from Whitstable.