A school and a nursery had to be put under lockdown after a man with a gun was spotted in a village.

Armed police were called to Bocking, shortly after 12noon on Wednesday.

Members of the public had reported a man with what was believed to be a firearm walking in the Church Street area.

Around 1pm, witnesses spotted armed officers attending a property nearby.

When officers located the firearm, they determined the weapon was in fact an air rifle.

Scallywags Nursery, in Church Street, and Bocking Church Street Primary School both put their premises under lockdown throughout the afternoon as a precaution.

Ruby Wilson, deputy manager of Scallywags Nursery, said: “We had a report from a member of the public regarding a situation on Church Street.

“Due to the present world we live in we made the decision to put the Nursery into lockdown as a precaution.

“Our main priority was to protect the children and staff, both handled the situation very well.”

A police dog unit and helicopter were also used during the operation, with delays in the area whilst police attended the property.

A spokesperson for Bocking Church Street Primary School said: “We were made aware of a police incident in the village on Wednesday afternoon.

“We contacted the police who reassured us that there was no risk to the public, but as a precaution, the main entrance gates from the road were closed from 1.30pm until the incident had been resolved.”

Police confirmed they did not advise the school and nursery to introduce the lockdown as they did not believe there was immediate danger to the public.

Following the incident, a 24-year-old man was arrested.

An Essex Police spokesman said: “PJ Longstaff, of Church Road, was charged with possession of a firearm in a public place and is due to appear at Colchester Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, April 5.”