Ongoing armed police incident in Broadwater Street, Worthing

Officers are currently surrounding a shop in Broadwater Street West, Worthing.

The area has been cordoned off with police tape.

A witness reported "what looked like a siege situation" and said there were "a large number of officers and a dog unit" on the scene.

Others have reported hearing a police helicopter hovering overhead.

A passerby said: "There’s a helicopter above my head right now.

"I don’t know what’s happening.

"There were unmarked police cars there, fire engines, and armed response vehicles.

"I walked past and thought, ‘oh s***, what’s going on?’.

"We just phoned a shop nearby and they had no idea what’s happening either.

"As I walked past there were police talking to a couple of people outside Tesco, there was swearing.

"This was about 8.45am so it’s been going on for a while.

"A lot of people have backed off but some workers are standing outside their shops.

"Everybody’s acting normally, people are just going about their day, no one’s really worried.

"Some are standing around or walking their dogs."

Shortly after 11am another said: "There are more and more police vehicles turning up every few minutes.

"Another van of officers with riot shields has just pulled up."

Several police cars and a fire engine could be seen parked across the road.

A drone is also being used for surveillance.

Officers with guns stationed themselves around a row of shops in the street.

The road has been closed in both directions.

A spokesman for West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service said: "We can confirm that we were called at 8.28am today and that a crew from Worthing Fire Station have attended.

"This is an ongoing police incident."

An AA spokesman said: "There are reports of the road being partially blocked and slow traffic due to an incident on the A24 Broadwater Street West at Broadwater Street East.

Adur and Worthing Police said there are diversions in place and told residents this is "not a firearms incident, armed response are assisting uniformed colleagues".

The force said they would "update later".

Sussex Police said schools in the area "will have been informed" following reports that several school in the area had been places "on lockdown".

Adur and Worthing Police said: "Broadwater C of E Primary School, Lancing Prep and Worthing High School have been advised by PCSOs that there is no need to keep pupils and staff inside while the ongoing incident in Broadwater Street West is being dealt with.

"The A24 at this location is currently closed."

A Sussex Police spokesman also provided a statement on the incident.

He said: "Armed officers and other emergency services are currently, as of 8.35am on, in attendance at a property in Broadwater Street West following concerns for the welfare of a man.

"The A24 going through this location is currently closed while officers are dealing with the matter.

"No further details at this time."

Shortly before 1pm a witness reported that police were entering a building in the street.

At 2.30pm a passerby said emergency services vehicles were leaving the scene.

Sussex Police have now revealed a man has been arrest over "making threats to kill".

READ MORE HERE>>> Man arrested over 'making threats to kill' after six-hour stand-off with police