A full-scale police operation involving armed officers and a helicopter was launched after children were seen waving a gun on a traveller site.
Police officers, wearing protective body armour and equipped with MP5 hand guns, swooped on the Oak Lane traveller camp in Basildon after being alerted just before 2pm on Sunday.
Two armed officers guarded the entrance, closely flanked by five other uniformed colleagues, while a site search involving police dogs took place.
A total of four police vehicles were parked by the southend-bound track of the A127, opposite the Mayflower Retail Park.
For more read Monday's Evening Echo
Published Monday May 24, 2004
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