Armed police have been called to a busy high street after a man in his underwear was badly beaten in a daylight gang attack.

Dramatic footage shows the moment the victim was pulled from his flat in Herne Bay and dragged to the ground.

Stunned onlookers gasped as three men dressed in dark clothes rained down blows on the victim as he cowered on the pavement.

Scroll down to hear from a woman who witnessed the attack

The brutal attack left onlookers shocked

The brutal assault only ended when estate agents intervened and the attackers fled - two on mountain bikes and the other on foot.

Police say a man suffered a stab wound and has since been arrested on suspicion of affray.

KentOnline has decided not to show the full video footage.

One witness, who does not want to be named, told how the three men kicked down the door to the flat, between Miles & Barr and The Gold Exchange.

She says the man had been seen shouting and throwing glass from his flat window above the shops moments before the attack.

They said: "They broke down the door and dragged him out onto the street. They kicked him to pieces.

"The estate agents intervened. If they hadn't, it could have been much worse.

"Where I was, there were little girls watching and crying."

Police say officers were called to a "disturbance" at about 1pm.

A spokesman added: "Armed officers, who were in the area, attended the scene near to the junction with William Street to assist regular patrols.

"A man was arrested on suspicion of affray and subsequently taken to hospital with injuries consistent with a stab wound.

"Enquiries remain ongoing in the area to establish the circumstances of the incident and to identify anyone else involved."

Staff at Miles & Barr declined to comment.

Read more: All the latest news from Herne Bay