ARMED police hunting a gunman stormed a car park in Leigh where a boot sale was being held.

Officers, including the police dog unit, were called to reports of a fight in Belton Way, near Leigh railway station, at about 9.30am on Sunday.

Four men have been arrested in connection with the incident.

An Essex Police spokesman said: “A man had been assaulted and there were reports a gun had been seen.”

One man received injuries, believed to be cuts and bruises, during the fracas which took place near a burger van in the car park.

It is understood about nine police cars rushed there after it was suggested firearms were involved.

Witness James Morrison said: “We were on our way to the tip and saw all these police cars blocking the entrance to the car park. The fact there were no cars around when normally it is so busy there for the boot sale was very unusual.”

Three men were arrested on suspicion of possession of a firearm and assault.

The suspects, a 43-year-old man from south London, a 46-year-old man from Hullbridge and a 49-year-old man from Billericay, were being questioned yesterday.

A fourth man, 36, from Westcliff, believed to have been injured in the incident, was arrested on suspicion of affray.

The Lazybones boot sale had finished early due to wet weather.

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