TWO security guards at Bexleyheath's Job Centre were taken to hospital today after being attacked by a man armed with a knuckleduster.

Police were called to the centre in Bexleyheath Broadway at 11.23am after a member of staff in the building pressed a panic alarm.

Officers arrived within three minutes and an ambulance was also called, but the attacker had already fled the scene.

Both security guards were taken to hospital.

One guard, aged 40, had suffered a torn inner ear drum and a fractured jaw.

The second guard, aged 44, had a split lip.

A witness to the assaults was driven around the area by police and shortly afterwards a man suspected of carrying out the attack was spotted near Bexleyheath clock tower in the Broadway.

When the officers tried to detain him, four of them were assaulted.

They all suffered cuts and bruising but did not need hospital treatment.

A 44-year-old man was then arrested on suspicion of committing GBH, attempted GBH and four assaults on police, and possession of an offensive weapon.

Currently, the man is still being held at Bexleyheath police station.