ARMED police were called to a road in Westcliff on Monday night following reports of a man seen carrying a firearm outside a house.

Officers attended the scene on Milton Road and carried out an area search but found nothing.

A police presence has been maintained at the scene throughout Tuesday with a section of the pavement on the eastern side of the road being cordoned off.

A police spokesperson said: "Neighbourhood police officers remain at the scene conducting house to house enquiries. 

"A section of the road will remain closed until after lunchtime."

A stretch of around 50 yards from Carey House to 32 Milton Road has been taped off, with two police cars present.

The road was reopened at 2pm this afternoon and the police are continuing with their enquiries to establish what happened.

The officers let residents and businesses drive under the cordon this morning to access their homes and places of work.

Workers on the road said the cordon was up when they arrived for work and did not know what happened.