THERE was drama in a usually sleepy village yesterday as a 50-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of attempted burglary.

Police were called to Wellgreen Lane, Kingston, near Lewes, yesterday morning after receiving a call from a concerned resident alerting them about the man.

After officers searched the area he was arrested in a field nearby after struggling with police, leaving one officer with a minor facial injury.

Police said that two members of public came to the officer’s aid as he was being attacked.

A woman, who asked not to be named, was travelling by car when she saw the man being held down by police in a field opposite the Wyevale Garden Centre in Newhaven Road, Kingston.

She said: “We were on our way to Shoreham at around midday when I saw five police cars parked by the garden centre and there was also a dog handler there.

“In the field I saw three police officers trying to keep a man on the ground after they had tackled him.

“It looked like they were struggling with him and I think they were trying to arrest him.

“This all happened in the field opposite the garden centre in quite clear view.

“We weren’t sure what was going on but did wonder at the time whether it was a prisoner that had managed to escape from Lewes Prison.”

Officers patrolled the area and two police cars remained at the scene for a few hours after the incident.

Visitors at The Juggs pub said they saw the police cars arrive.

Officers then asked residents living in the surrounding streets what they had seen.

Adriana Dawson, from Lewes, said: “The police cars arrived during what felt like a quiet morning.

“I could just see two officers knocking on doors.

“It didn’t seem very serious but I couldn’t really tell what was going on.”

A spokesman for Sussex Police said: “At 11.37am on Tuesday, police were called to a report of an attempted burglary in Wellgreen Lane, Kingston, near Lewes. Following a swift search of the area a man was arrested.

“One PC received a minor facial injury during the arrest and did not require hospital treatment. A 50-year-old man is currently in custody for interview and further enquiries. This was a quick response and good work by our officers, following a call from an alert local resident. Two members of the public came to assist the officer who was being assaulted.”