A huge knife has been seized after being found on the street by a member of the public.

Swale special constables were alerted at about 3am on Saturday morning after the large blade was seen on the floor in Courtenay Road in Maidstone.

The volunteer police officers were out on patrol with the South East Coast Joint Response Unit when they received a call from someone who had spotted the weapon.

In a tweet a spokesman said: "It has been seized and taken off our streets."

The dangerous weapon appears to be a Survivor brand knife.

Police have been contacted for further information.

The find comes amid growing concern over knife crime.

In January, a worried mum warned people to be on their guard after her son was followed and chased by men wearing ski masks who threatened them with knives.

The pupils from Fulston Manor School pupils were allegedly stalked into McDonald's in Mill Way, Sittingbourne, before being chased when they left towards the railway station.

In February a terrified shop assistant reportedly wrenched a knife out of a schoolboy's hands as he held it to his face shouting "I'll do you".

The incident is reported to have happened after a staff member at East Street News in Sittingbourne told two youngsters to leave the store, after identifying them as troublemakers.

Statistics show knife crime in Kent has increased threefold over the past decade.