THE police helicopter was launched this afternoon to assist officers looking for a man who was trying to gain access to a Poole property.

At 2.35pm, a call was made to Dorset Police after the main was seen outside of a building on Sixpenny Close, in the Rossmore area, leading to the police helicopter joining the search.

Efforts were made to locate the man but he was not found, said a spokesperson for Dorset Police.

The helicopter was seen hovering over Bournemouth town centre at 4.17pm, possibly as part of the same investigation.