Fears a gunman was roaming in a residential area sparked a major police response.

Officers armed with firearms even launched a drone into the sky to search in harder-to-reach places after reports were made yesterday evening.

They were called to a footpath near Hill Road in Eastbourne yesterday evening after a member of the public reported seeing a with a "possible firearm."

A spokesman for Sussex Police, at the time of the incident, said: "In order to ensure the safety of the public, armed officers have been deployed to carry out searches of the area, assisted by the police drone."

The force said no people or firearms which matched the description were located, and no injuries have been reported.

They told the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to them either online or by calling 101 and quoting Operation Sealion.