A MAN was found in a garden shed after fleeing police in Colchester.

Officers and the police helicopter searched for the man after he ran from them in Castle Park on Monday morning.

Nearby Roman Road and Castle Road were closed while the search was conducted shortly before 10.30am.

Home owners in Castle Road described a “mass of police cars” in the street.

Others heard shouting and said a police car was also parked at the gates to upper Castle Park.

Terry Dowding’s daughter, who was visiting him with his grandchild, was told she could not get through to Castle Road.

Mr Dowding, of Castle Road, said: “There were lots of police and the police helicopter. They shut Roman Road and Castle Road and there were police at either end.

“There was a police dog and it found someone in a garden.

“There were an awful lot of police. We don’t get stuff like this round here very often.”

Mr Dowding said he had never seen that many police in the area before. He said: “I don’t know what it was all about.

“As soon as the police dog got here it was two minutes and they were gone.”

A police spokesman said: “Police arrested a 21-yearold man from Colchester on suspicion of theft after he made off from officers in Castle Park.

“Following a short pursuit and with the help from the helicopter, a man was found in the shed of a rear garden in Castle Road and is now in custody.”