A “NAKED knifeman” sparked a large scale police operation in Meopham this afternoon.

The police helicopter was scrambled at 1.47pm to search Meopham, Sole Street and Camer for the man in his 50s.

He was eventually found by a police sniffer dog up a tree in Camer Park at around 3pm – yards from a popular children’s play area.

The man, who is believed to suffer from mental health issues, was bundled into a police van and taken to hospital.

Mother-of-five Marion Porter, 45, who was at the park with her daughter and three-year-old grandson, told News Shopper: “It was quite a shock.
 

“We heard the helicopter and came round the corner and saw a police car.
 

“We asked one of the officers if it was safe to come in and he said the man had a knife and the dog had got him so it was safe now.

"It's the first time I’ve ever taken my grandson here.”