A LARGE police presence, including armed officers, responded to reports of a man with a gun in Swanage town centre.

Police descended in large numbers on High Street on Saturday night in the area of the Red Lion pub.

They remained in the area for a couple of hours, with witnesses reporting seeing more than a dozen police vehicles in the town, primarily in the Shore Road area.

Dorset Police confirmed that "items" were located.

A spokeswoman for Dorset Police said: "We were called at 10.30pm on Saturday, March 14, to a report of a male possibly with a gun in the area of the Red Lion pub in High Street, Swanage.

"Officers attended the scene and remained in the area until around 1am on Sunday morning. Items were located by officers.

"A male was arrested and is helping officers with their enquiries."