ARMED police swooped in on a teenage party after a hoax 999 caller said a gun had been pulled.

Sussex Police said officers were deployed to an address in St Leonards-on-Sea, Hastings, on Friday night, but found no trace of a firearm.

Two 14-year-old boys were arrested on suspicion of wasting police time and have since been released on bail.

Police also arrested the boys on suspicion of possessing cannabis with intent to supply.

Sussex Police said the incident “highlighted the dangers of abusing the emergency system and tying up key resources that may have been genuinely needed elsewhere”.

Inspector Olivia Carroll, of Hastings police, said: "The 999 system exists to report incidents where there are fears for someone's safety and well-being, or a crime is in progress.

"Abusing its use not only risks blocking genuine calls needing immediate life-saving responses, but is completely anti-social and inevitably has cost implications."