Armed police swoop after gun claim

From the archive, first published Thursday 12th Apr 2007.

ARMED police swarmed into a quiet Thundersley street following reports of a man brandishing a gun.

Police closed Kingshawes following reports of a

"domestic- related" incident.

The road was closed to traffic for more than an hour as an armed response team dealt with the situation.

Eventually, a 48-year-old man gave himself up and was arrested on suspicion of firearms offences.

He was taken to Rayleigh police station for questioning by detectives.

Police cars stayed at the scene for another two hours after the incident, as residents in the quiet back street, near Hart Road, came to terms with the morning's events.

David Winfield, who lives near the alleged gunman's home, woke to find scores of armed officers near the front door of his home.

He said: "There have been police cars coming and going all morning. They closed off the road for about an hour or so."

Another elderly neighbour, who asked not to be identified, said his wife saw officers leading a man away from the scene.

The man, who is in his seventies, said: "I could see police officers walking about the place this morning.

"My wife said she saw them put a chap in the back of a van with handcuffs on.

"The road was all closed off. You couldn't go out of the road and they wouldn't let any cars come out or go into the road."

Police would not comment on the details of the incident, except to say it was "domestic related".