Armed police swooped after a man carrying a sword disappeared.

The man, who was spotted holding the weapon, initially made the threats to commit suicide before going missing.

Sussex Police launched a full-scale hunt for him.

He was subsequently spotted – still with the sword – heading towards a harbour where he jumped into the water.

Police ran after him into the water and the suicidal man and officers then had to be pulled out of the harbour by volunteers from the RNLI at about 2.30pm yesterday (May 10).

A large part of the Old Town was cordoned off by police as they tried to talk with the man wielding the sword.

A Sussex Police spokeswoman last night said: “Police were called to Wellington Square in Hastings at 2.20pm after a report a man was armed with a bladed weapon.

“An extensive search of the area was carried out to try and locate the man, who was subsequently seen walking towards the harbour arm behind the Lifeboat Station with, what appeared to be, a sword.

“Despite several attempts to speak to him, the man initially failed to respond but indicated he wanted to take his own life. At no point were any threats made to the public.

“The area was cordoned off while talks continued and, as a result of these, the man then handed over the weapon.

“Without warning, he then jumped into the water, quickly followed by a police officer.

“Both were subsequently rescued by the lifeboat which was on stand-by and the man, who is local to the area, was arrested for possession of an offensive weapon.”

A Hastings RNLI spokesman said: “We were called after the altercation had started.

“The police and this particular chap had moved to the harbour arm. Our inshore rescue boat launched as a result of this and the police managed to drop the sword.

“At this point, the guy dropped this sword and jumped into the water. The police followed him.”