A man has been arrested after a police officer was stabbed.

Several police and ambulance vehicles were spotted by Haynes Ford in Andrew Broughton Way, Maidstone, last night.

Police were attending an address in Albion Place at around 8pm when the assault took place.

The officer, a police constable in his 50s, was airlifted to a London hospital with injuries consistent with stab wounds.

He has since been discharged and is recovering at home.

A 48-year old man from Maidstone has been arrested and remains in custody while inquiries continue.

One resident nearby described how they saw at least 30 officers enter an apartment block opposite the dealership.

She said: “It started off with one police car, then they all just swarmed around and ran into the building. It looked very intense.

“An ambulance pulled in and they brought someone out. He looked as if he’d been hit on the head.

“They then took a second person out, who was in handcuffs and put him in the back of a police vehicle.”

She added: “There must have been seven police cars, a riot van, some unmarked cars and two ambulances.

“A forensic van came at 11pm, someone went into the building wearing a hazmat suit and then left.”

An air ambulance spokesman confirmed they attended but were unable to comment further.

Kent Police Deputy Chief Constable, Peter Ayling said: “This horrific assault shows us once again that policing can, at times, be dangerous and unpredictable.

“In Kent Police any assault on a police officer going about their duty is entirely unacceptable and will be met with the full force of pursuit and investigation.

“Our thoughts are with the officer and his family at this time.”