A man has been brought out of a block of flats by armed police who have been stationed outside for several hours.

Officers have been seen training guns at a block in Massey Close, near Amstrong Road, Maidstone.

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A police spokesman said this followed an altercation in Headcorn.

At the height of the incident seven cars were sent, arriving around 3pm.

An officer said this afternoon there were several people inside the building they want to come out.

Some cars had left earlier today but just before 6pm two cars arrived and officers with guns and dogs got out.

Some people have now been allowed back in after being told they had to stay outside.

Jim Stoneham, who works at a nearby business, said: "The officers are wearing helmets and face masks and I can see at least one with a gun, pointing it at the flats.

"I think there may be some inside a block of flats because there are a couple of police in front of the flats.

"There are seven cars, three dog unit cars but I can only count six officers and a couple of dogs.

"Everyone is curious about what is going on, it's not a situation you see everyday. There is a bit of a crowd gathering there now."

Police are focusing on one block and people living here have not been allowed back in.

Charlie Kemp, 28, who lives in the building, said: “When we left home we saw one police car and didn’t think much of it, then when we came back it was surrounded with cars and armed police.

"No one seems to know what’s going on but it must be serious. No one who lives there is being let back in and I think there are still people inside who have been told they’re not allowed to leave.

"I saw one woman step out the front of the flats and an officer put his finger to his lips as if to tell her to be quiet, and then escorted her away from the building. We’ve had police here before but nothing quite like this.”

Earlier there were 20 people milling around the street and standing outside the buildings.

Armed officers were also patrolling the playing fields at South Park, while people walked their dogs and children played at the skate park nearby.

Paramedics have also treated a woman who collapsed. An ambulance service spokesman said it is not yet known if she needed hospital treatment.

Police are also at a crash involving a lorry and a pedestrian in nearby Loose Road as well.

The flats opened in 2012 and offered accommodation to single mothers and pregnant women aged between 16 and 21.

Run by Golding Homes, a spokesman said it was an ongoing police incident and did not want to comment on what was happening.

A police spokesman said: "Patrols including firearms officers are currently at an address in Massey Close, Maidstone in connection with an alleged altercation earlier in Headcorn.

"No injuries have been reported to police and initial enquiries are underway. There have been no arrests at this stage."

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