A MAN brandishing a "massive knife and covered in blood" has been arrested in central Brighton.

Police were called to reports of a man with a knife in Ditchling Road, Brighton, at about 1.15pm today.

Armed officers arrived within minutes and found the man in nearby Oxford Street.

A Taser was drawn, at which point the suspect dropped the knife, a Sussex Police spokesman said. He added the Taser was not deployed.

The road was temporarily closed while officers were in attendance and the scene was made safe.

A 35-year-old year man from Brighton has been arrested on suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon and is being transferred to hospital with knife wounds, which are believed to be self-inflicted.

The matter was dealt with swiftly and no other members of the public were harmed.

Sarah Savage, 34, was walking along Oxford Street when she saw the man, wearing a blue checked short-sleeve shirt and khaki shorts, lurking in a doorway.

She said: "I just walked around the corner and there was this guy covered in blood from head to foot.

"My adrenaline was going. I thought it was a dangerous situation.

"There were people in tears and others running.

"He didn't look massively distressed. He was wandering around and seemed unaware that he had a knife in his hand. He didn't realise it was a problem for anyone.

"There was quite a big commotion.

"When the police came and tackled him I remember him saying, 'I don't want to hurt anyone.'

"I felt sorry for him. It's probably another failing of the mental health system to be honest."