LATEST: Armed police in Malvern (From Worcester News)

LATEST: Armed police in Elgar Avenue, Malvern

6:16pm Friday 3rd August 2012 in News

ARMED police stormed a Worcestershire street after reports a man had been seen with a gun.

Eye witnesses living on Elgar Avenue in Malvern said around 12 police cars and about 24 armed officers closed off the street around 1pm.

The police presence on the street ended about three hours later, although the incident was still on going.

It is believed the man with the firearm was known to others involved in the incident and the police reassured the public they were under no threat.

An unnamed witness said they had watched the whole incident as they had remained in their property during what they assumed at the time to be a drugs raid. He said it took the armed officers around two hours to enter the home in question as the gun was inside the property.

Sue Cherry, aged 22, whose house overlooks the back of the property targeted by police, said: “There were two policemen just outside the gate and you could see policemen with guns. We were asking if it was safe, and they said we should stay inside. They were also asking people what they knew about this flat.”

She said that after a while police entered the flat. “They broke down the door and about seven or eight of them went in,” she said. “They had dogs as well. It didn’t look as if they arrested anybody, and after a while they came out and went away.”

At around 4.15pm a West Mercia spokesperson said: “Officers are currently in Elgar Avenue in Malvern following a report of a man seen with a gun.

“It is believed this is an isolated incident between parties known to each other and there is no threat to the general public.

“People living in Elgar Avenue are asked to heed the advice of officers at the scene while the incident is being investigated.”

No arrests have been made and although the police appeared to have left the area they said the incident was still ongoing.