A MAN has been bailed by police after shots were fired near Brighton Racecourse.

Police officers were called to reports of guns being fired at the top of top of Elm Grove on Tuesday evening.

Witnesses reported hearing shots in the area and seeing several police cars chasing a vehicle in Brighton.

A force spokesman said: "A small group of people, all known to each other, were involved in an altercation and at one point a gun was apparently fired, although not at someone, and no one was injured.

"There was a search for a van that had left the scene and it was spotted and stopped on the A23 at Hickstead at about 9.30pm. There was no firearm in it."

A 23-year-old man from Billericay in Essex has been arrested on suspicion of possession of a firearm.

He has been questioned and released on bail until November 7.