ARMED police were called to a supermarket car park this morning.

A passerby said they saw the armed officers outside the store in Arundel Road, Brighton, and the surrounding area was cordoned off.

Alex Taylor, 56, said: “I was just having my morning coffee when I heard police cars and someone shouting ‘stop, get your keys out of the ignition'.

"I looked out my window and saw armed police outside a car in Lidl car park.

“A man was dragged out and made to lie face down on the floor and a woman in the car was taken away.

"He was put in the back of their car but has now been released.”

A police spokesman said: "At about 11am police responded to a report of a man with a firearm in Arundel Road, Brighton.

"An extensive area search was carried out, however there was no trace of anyone matching this description.

"It has since been assessed that this was not a genuine report, however it is not being considered malicious.

"Whilst responding to this report, officers stopped a man believed to be of interest in the area.

"No offences were identified and the man was released shortly afterwards."