A Gravesend woman was forced to tell late-night visitors she was "not a hooker" after a suspected brothel opened next to her family home.

Police raided a house in Kings Drive following complaints from neighbours about strange goings-on at the property on a quiet, residential road.

Leona Melling, who has lived in the street all her life, told News Shopper she had been forced to answer the door to men she believed were looking for prostitutes in the early hours of the morning.

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Police have confirmed this is the house which is a suspected brothel

The 26-year-old, who shares a house with her mum, said: "Some of the men would get the wrong house and knock on our door around 2am.

"They would be quite persistent with their knock so we would have to answer.

"There are only so many times you can tell people that you're not a hooker.

"Living next door to that is something I never thought I'd experience in Gravesend."

Residents began to suspect the house was being used as a brothel when they noticed more and more people pulling up outside in their cars.

Miss Melling added: "The first thing we noticed was that there was nowhere to park any more.

"People were pulling up around 2am and leaving their engines running, it was waking everybody up because it's normally very quiet around here.

"Then there were lots of people going in and out of the house and there were always lots of towels and sheets drying in the back garden.

"We started to call the police because it's not a nice thing to have on your street.

"Kids are always playing outside and because of it they can't any more."

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Police stormed the house in a dawn raid on July 22, arresting five people.

A Kent Police spokesman said: "Five people have been arrested by officers executing a warrant in Gravesend after receiving information of a suspected brothel.

"Three women and a man were arrested at the scene in Kings Drive on Wednesday July 22, and a fourth woman was arrested later the same day.

"All five have been bailed pending further enquiries."

Two women from Gravesend, aged 32 and 34, were arrested at the scene and have been bailed until September 28.

A 23-year-old woman from Gravesend and a 61-year-old man from Bexleyheath were also arrested at the scene.

The woman has been bailed until September 25, the man until September 23.

A woman from Medway was arrested later the same day and has been bailed until September 28.