ARMED POLICE have raided a Southampton address as part of a major firearms operation.

Residents say around 20 police officers, some armed and wearing riot gear, swooped on an address in Landguard Road.

Emergency services had received reports of a man armed with a gun during the incident at around 2.30pm yesterday.

Witnesses reported being scared and shocked as officers rushed to the scene.

Residents were “ordered to go inside” while a woman who wished to remain unnamed said how police with guns poised, surrounded the house.

A cordon was set up with Landguard Road blocked off at its junctions with Arthur Road and Atherley Road.

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Officers reportedly dragged a man from a house and handcuffed him on the ground.

Police cars remained on the scene for much of the afternoon while officers carried out investigations.

A 19-year-old man and a 13-year-old boy have since been arrested on suspicion of possessing a firearm.

However, it has been revealed that the firearm is believed to be a BB gun.

One neighbour said: “I was a bit scared as we don’t often see police with firearms so I knew it must be something serious.

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“The police wouldn’t let us leave our houses and I went into my garden at one point which is next door to theirs and there was a police officer pointing a gun at their house.

“He who told me to go back inside.

“The whole thing went on for well over an hour. I heard them shouting “police” from inside the building.”

A police spokesperson said: “We were called just before 2pm on Wednesday, May 20 to a report of a man with a firearm in Landguard Road.

“Officers attended and the man was located, with what is believed to be a BB gun. A 19-year-old man and 13-year-old boy have been arrested on suspicion of possessing a firearm.”

Anyone with any information or who witnessed the incident is urged to contact police on 101 or to call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.