A MAN has been arrested after reportedly being “seen with a firearm” in Southend.

Essex Police received reports of a man with a firearm at around 4:40pm yesterday afternoon.

Officers attended the area of Burnaby Road to conduct a search, as well as sending out a helicopter.

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A 22-year-old man was later arrested on suspicion of possession of a firearm.

A spokesman for Essex Police said: “We received reports of a man seen with a firearm in Southend around 4.40pm on Thursday 13 April.

“Officers attended the area of Burnaby Road to conduct a search and arrested a 22-year-old local man on suspicion of possession of a firearm.

“He remains in custody.

“If you have any information, CCTV, dash cam or other footage in relation to this incident, then please get in contact with us.

“Please quote incident 897 of 13 April.”

Essex Police has also since confirmed it was an "imitation weapon". 

They added: "We have established that an item recovered during the search is an imitation weapon."