WEAPONS have been seized and teenagers arrested after armed police rushed to Canvey following reports of a gun.

Officers have recovered a sword and what has now been identified as an air rifle.

The armed unit, supported by the dog unit and police helicopter, rushed to the island before arresting two 15-year-old boys and a 16-year-old boy.

It followed several calls from worried families who reported seeing a gun being carried around the streets.

Police received reports at roughly 5.20pm on Wednesday evening of a gun being carried in Linden Way.

Due to the serious nature of the reports, specialist units were scrambled.

A search of the area identified two cars, a grey Ford Focus and a red Ford Fiesta.

The cars were stopped and searched, and a sword was found in the Ford Focus, and a air rifle found in the Ford Fiesta.

Following the finding, two 15-year-old boys were arrested, as well as 16-year-old boy, all from Canvey, on suspicion of possessing offensive weapons.

Despite a number of residents reporting the sighting of a weapon, police have stated that no-one was injured and no threats were made.

The Essex Police firearms support unit tweeted: “We responded to a further firearms incident in Canvey yesterday and arrested three people found to be in possession of a number of weapons, including a sword and a rifle.”

A spokesman for Essex Police said: “We were called yesterday evening, Wednesday, May 15 with reports that a man was seen with what was believed to be a firearm on Linden Way, Canvey around 5.20pm.

“Officers arrived and carried out a search of an area, assisted by the police helicopter and found what was described as a sword inside a grey Ford Focus and an air rifle inside a red Ford Fiesta.

“Two 15-year-old boys and a 16-year-old boy from Canvey were arrested on suspicion of possessing an offensive weapon.

“No one was threatened or injured and enquires are ongoing.

“Witnesses or anyone with information are asked to contact Basildon CID on 101, quoting incident number 894 of May 15.

“Information can also be given completely anonymously to independent charity Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555 111 or visiting crimestoppers-uk.org.”