Police are alleged to have raided a house in a street near to the St Cedds Church in Bridgwater Drive, Westcliff.

There are 12 officers that are said to be in the road right now in three police vehicles and one unmarked vehicle.

A member of the public said that five armed police officers entered a house in Treecot Drive, Southend and brought a man outside.

The unnamed member of the public said: “The police have come and taken over the whole road. They have told everybody to stay inside. There were children outside.”

The member of the public also alleged that a sniper rifle was being aimed at the house in Treecot Drive.