ARMED police were called to a Hampshire superstore yesterday after shoppers reported a man carrying a gun.

Worried customers at Asda in Chandler's Ford alerted security guards to the man, who was reported to be walking around the shop with a gun tucked in his waistband.

The drama unfolded at around 4pm, just as the shop began to get busy, however the premises was not evacuated. Staff called 999 while the man was being watched on CCTV as he walked around and then out of the premises.

Manager of the Bournemouth Road store Paul Allen said the man then stood outside, where he took off his shirt and wrapped it around what they believed to be a gun.

Mr Allen said: "He went straight outside and took his shirt off. It wasn't a particularly hot day so he drew attention to himself straight away."

He added when police arrived on the scene minutes later the man ran off but he was later apprehended in local woods by officers using sniffer dogs.

Police today confirmed that the gun was a replica.

Mr Allen said: "CCTV was trained on the man at all times. In a situation like that we would never get into a confrontation."

Greg Read, assitant manager of Elliotts Builders, on Bournemouth Road, said: "There were lots of police cars and officers in the area for a couple of hours. We just didn't know what was going on but it seemed quite serious."

A 23-year-old man from Southampton was arrested for possessing a replica handgun but was later released on bail pending further enquiries.