Armed police and a helicopter swooped in on a Basildon estate after reports that a man was wandering around in possession of a gun.

Chalvdeon Square, in Pitsea, was the scene of a search by armed police for a man allegedly in the area with a firearm.

The incident happened near a precinct of shops, known as the Chalvedon Shops, which is in a housing estate and backs onto a park.

The owner of the Mediterranean Cafe & Grill, Vcier Harmankaya, in Chalvedon spoke of how armed police came into his eatery, at around 3:30pm, and patted down a man but found no firearm on him.

He said: "Two armed police officers came in and restrained a gentleman in the corner of the cafe.

"The police patted him down and then they left."

Staff members and customers had to move to one side of the cafe whilst the other side was occupied by armed police officers searching the man.

Also present at the incident was Kirti Patel who works alongside Mr Harmankaya in the Mediterranean Cafe & Grill.

She said: "There was a helicopter and there was armed police and they came inside and searched this man but found nothing on him. They must have got the wrong guy.

"I have never seen armed police before so obviously I was frightened.

"I was telling my staff not to go outside, just in case they were shot.

"I was really not happy about it."

Despite the disturbance, the Mediterranean Cafe & Grill continued operating.

Also in the precinct of shops is a Londis supermarket and the Six Dragons takeaway.

The latest update is police are continuing to search for the man who was alleged to have been wandering around the Chalvedon area possessing a firearm.

A spokesman from Essex Police said: “Police were called to a report of a man being seen with what is believed to be a firearm around his waist in Chalvedon Square, Basildon shortly before 3pm today, Friday, September 29.

“There was no suggestion of the weapon being used or shown.

“Armed officers attended and are currently searching the area for the man."