UPDATED: Police have this evening (Thursday) responded to unconfirmed reports of a man ‘with a gun’ at Bluebell Meadows in Newport.
Several officers, including Armed Response Officers, descended on the scene following a 999 call at around 20:15 reporting the sighting of a man with what was described as a gun.
Police have conducted door to door enquiries, asking locals if they have seen anything untoward.
At this stage there is no suggestion of a real and present risk to the community, but locals should remain vigilant.
UPDATE @ 22:00 – Police, including the dog support unit and Armed Response Officers, have now left the scene having conducted a search of the area.
Local residents have told Island Echo how children were frightened by the actions of the man.
UPDATE FRIDAY – In a statement issued this afternoon, Hampshire Constabulary have confirmed they were alerted to the incident at Trattles Court, Bluebell Meadows at shortly before 20:00.
According to Police, 5 children were chased by a man who was acting suspiciously – it’s said he was carrying an object which some of the children have described as looking like a gun.
The individual, who has not been traced, fled from the scene when a panic alarm was activated. Officers arriving on the scene last night did not find anything suspicious happening.
No CCTV images have been obtained of the incident, but Police say they take reports like this very seriously.
Officers will be patrolling the area over the coming days to provide re-assurance to the local community.
Residents should remain vigilant.
