ARMED police were called to reports of a man seen with a knife in Bournemouth this afternoon. 

Officers were called to Queens Park West Drive at 12.16pm on Monday after a man was seen sitting on a bench in the park with a knife.

Police carried out a search of the area assisted by the NPAS helicopter, but the man was not located.

The helicopter was airborne over the Queens Park and Springbourne area for nearly two hours before the search was halted.

No arrested have been made.

A Dorset Police spokesperson said: “Police were called at 12.16pm on Monday April 12, 2021 to reports of a man seen sitting on a bench with a knife on Queens Park West Drive in Bournemouth.

“Officers attended and carried out a search of the area, assisted by the NPAS helicopter, but did not locate the man described and no arrests were made.

“There were no reports of anyone having been threatened and no further reports of concern from the public were received.”