ARMED police descended on a Southampton neighbourhood after reports of a man with a gun inside a house.

Officers carrying guns and protective shields swooped on the street in Southampton after the alarm was raised shortly before 11pm last night.

it is understood police activity was centred on a property in Blackthorn Road after information was received about a possible threat.

People living in the area told the Daily Echo that they saw a team of officers gathering outside a property in Blackthorn Road, Merryoak, shortly after midnight.

One resident in the area said: “I saw 12 officers all in visors. They had black helmets and body armour. It looked like they had been there for a while.”

Another person described how they had seen police with dog units in the area.

Hampshire police today confirmed the incident was in response to reports of a person with a firearm inside a property, adding that it deployed armed officers as is standard response.

However after attending the scene Hampshire Constabulary said they  discovered the incident was a false alarm and units were stood down.

A spokesman for Hampshire police said: "It was a false alarm, we did attend the scene following a call to us that concerned us but it turned out to be nothing.

"There was no crime and no stand off, and no one was hurt."