POLICE were called to a busy area of Southampton after a man was reportedly "running around with a nail gun".

Officers attended the incident in Bedford Place following a call at 1.11pm yesterday.

The force had received a report that a man had been seen in possession of an offensive weapon.

A witness, who wished to remain anonymous, described a man "running around with a nail gun" in the area.

They said: "The man arrived around 1pm. He was lurking around and then he got the nail gun out. 

"He was just behind me so it was really scary."

They added: "The staff at XOXO and the security and police were brilliant."

Hampshire Constabulary said a man was searched and he was found to be in possession of a screwdriver, chisel and a nail gun. 

A spokesperson for Hampshire Constabulary said: "A 32-year-old man from Southampton has been arrested on suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon in a public place and failure to provide a specimen for analysis."

The man remains in custody.