A MAN was seen waving a gun around in front of terrified residents on a busy street.

Armed police rushed to Stanford Avenue, Brighton, last night after a report of a man waving a handgun.

One resident told The Argus the man, who appeared to be about 50 years old, had pointed the handgun at a passerby who ran off.

She added: “My next-door neighbour was hysterical because he was going up and down the street for quite a while.

“Police arrived and shouted for everyone to get in and shouted for him to drop his weapon.”

Police said they had arrested a man and were searching a property on the road, which is near Preston Park.

They have recovered a BB gun.

A Sussex Police spokesman said the arrest had been made safely and without violence 22 minutes after they were called to the scene at 6.23pm.

Claire Walsh, 33, from St Nicholas Road, saw the incident unfold from her office window, and said: She said: “I could see a guy wandering around with something in his hand.

“Buses were stopping and people were getting out.

“I am not sure people were fully aware of what was happening.”

Officers closed the road near Beaconsfield Villas as they dealt with the incident.

A Sussex Police spokesman added: “There are no reports of any injuries or damage.

“The investigation is at an early stage.”