A TEENAGER was arrested by armed police after shoppers reported seeing a man with a gun in Colchester.

Armed officers closed Queen Street and stopped a car shortly after 1.30pm today.

A spokesman for Essex Police said: “Police have arrested a 16-year-old boy on suspicion of possession of an imitation firearm in a public place.

“Officers were called to reports of a someone with a gun in Queen Street, Colchester.”

The suspect was taken into custody for questioning.

See the full story in Monday's Gazette.