ARMED police found an air rifle in a usually peaceful area of Worcester after receiving reports of a group of boys with a weapon.

Officers rushed to Bilford Road, where they found an air rifle with an eyewitness saying they saw two people put in handcuffs by the side of the canal.

Police say two boys were spoken to by officers and enquiries are ongoing.

An eyewitness who was walking in the area at the time described it as scary and unexpected to see armed police in Worcester. 

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David Beswick was walking in the area when he noticed a police helicopter flying overhead.

He said: "I originally thought it was an air ambulance looking for somewhere to land, but I saw it remained in the same area for quite a while. 

"I then saw a convoy of police cars sweep into the close, completely blocking the area.

"They then made their way to Perdiswell, over the canal bridge."

Mr Beswick said it was 'shocking' to see the air rifle. 

He added the air rifle was discarded in bushes, meaning police had to retrieve it. 

Mr Beswick took photographs of the incident, including snaps of armed police in the area. 

He added: "When they first got to the scene, police put two people in handcuffs, they interviewed a fisherman and took the handcuffs off, the young man remained in handcuffs and they took him away and retrieved his bike later.

"It's quite scary when you see armed police with assault rifles as you don't expect things like that in Worcester. 

"The area I was in was quite a peaceful area, too, so it was very shocking. 

"It is nice to know that if response teams are called they are ready to go and act at that speed."

However, despite two people being spoken to, no arrests were reported after the discovery of the air rifle. 

A West Mercia Police spokesperson said:  We were called to Bilford Road around 2.10pm on Tuesday following reports of a group of boys with a weapon.

"Police, including armed officers, attended and an air rifle was found and two boys were spoken to by officers.

"Enquiries are on-going."