Violence erupted at a shopping centre after a vigilante group of "paedophile hunters" confronted a man suspected of grooming a 14-year-old girl.

A brawl ensued after vigilante group "The Hunted One" met the 29-year-old man at the Bluewater Shopping Centre in Greenhithe on Easter Sunday.

The video is available to view on the group's Facebook here

Broadcast from the scene, a Facebook Live video showed one of the group ask the man: "You're here to meet a child for sex, yeah?"

A member of The Hunted One alleged the suspect was aware the girl was underage and had said age does not matter. 

The man denied the allegations and said the girl, who he had been in contact with in an online chatroom, had told him she was over 18.

As the situation escalates, a man in a red top who does not appear to be apart of the group attacks the suspect and is seen kicking and punching him as several people try to stop him.

Security guards from the shopping centre step in to prevent any further violence before police officers arrive.

Detective Chief Inspector Emma Banks, of Kent Police, said a 29-year-old man had been arrested on suspicion of grooming and officers were investigating the disturbance.

She said: "Officers from Kent Police arrested a 29-year-old man from East London at Bluewater Shopping Centre on suspicion of grooming at 2.27pm on Sunday 16 April 2017.

"The arrested man is in custody. Police are also investigating a disturbance which took place in connection with this incident.

"I strongly discourage people taking the law into their own hands to avoid them and others including individuals which may have been wrongfully identified, being put in any danger. Any acts of violence reported will always be fully investigated and enquiries into this incident are ongoing."