ARMED police pinned a man to the ground before arresting him in a residential street.

Following reports of a man with a gun officers rushed to a property in Cromwell Road in Hove yesterday, just before 5pm.

A resident in the street witnessed the arrest and said armed police had surrounded a basement flat and closed the road while they handled the incident. 

She said: "There were loads of police with helmets and guns, as well as an ambulance and paramedics.

"Police were outside on ground level looking down the stairwell of the flat and at some point a plastic bottle was thrown up in the air, presumably in protest.

"They were there for about ten minutes until a man came out and they got hold if him.

The Argus:

"It was pretty dramatic - it's not something we're used to seeing here, although apparently this is the third time it has happened."

The witness said the suspect was in distress and at one point was pinned to the ground before he was taken away by police.

It follows a similar incident in the same street which took place last Friday, July 24.

READ MORE: Armed police respond to incident in Cromwell Road, Hove

Sussex Police said: “Police responded to an incident in Cromwell Road, Hove, at 4.40pm on Saturday, August 1.

"Specialist armed officers attended following a report of a man with a firearm at a property.

"A suspect was safely detained and arrested on suspicion of possession of a firearm.

"No injuries have been reported. A section of the road was closed to ensure the safety of the local community but has since been reopened.

"We’d like to thank the public for their patience and understanding while this incident was ongoing and assure that there is no threat to the wider community.”