A police helicopter, sniffer dogs and several police cars were called to a major alert at Hengistbury Head this afternoon after a report of three men with a rifle.

Armed officers were carefully searching the main car park by the Hungry Hiker cafe at 3pm but refused to reveal what they were looking for.

At least six police cars, including one plain clothes car, were reported at the scene.

Inspector Chris Weeks said: "At 2.40pm today, Wednesday 2 May 2012, officers received information that three men were seen to be in possession of a rifle in their vehicle parked at the Hengistbury Head car park."

The vehicle was traced to an address along Undercliffe Drive, in Boscombe.

Three men were arrested and an air rifle was recovered from the car.

No shots were fired.

The men, two from Bournemouth aged 20 and 22, and one 22-year-old Ferndown man, are helping police with their enquiries.