A MAN with a scarf wrapped around his head was seen carrying a knife through a busy shopping area of Poole in broad daylight yesterday, police say.

The man was spotted at 1.05pm by a woman who was driving past in a car.

She in turn flagged down a police car and told the officers inside that she had seen a man holding a knife in Ashley Road.

The witness told the officers the man was wearing blue trousers and had a scarf wrapped around his face. She then drove off towards Sea View Road before officers were able to take further details.

Chief Inspector Steve May, of Dorset Police, said: “While this is the only report we have received of this nature, we have been carrying out a number of searches in the local area to try and identify a man matching the description."

He called for anyone who witnessed a man carrying a knife to get in touch. He also urged the witness, who was driving a black two-seater Mercedes, to get into contact.

“In addition, I would like to hear from anyone who was travelling along Ashley Road just after 1pm on Thursday and may have relevant dashcam footage to assist my investigation," he said.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Dorset Police via dorset.police.uk, or by calling 101, quoting incident number 17:194.