Armed police swarm Middlesbrough street after garden tools mistaken for rifle
Armed police were spotted swarming a residential street last night following reports of a "suspected rifle" which was later found to be gardening tools.
Officers were pictured on Fulbeck Road in Middlesbrough at 8:30pm last night (April 24) following reports of a man with a suspected rifle.
When police arrived at the scene, two men were detained on Penny Avenue.
A subsequent search did not yield a firearm, but rather, gardening equipment which police believe may have been "mistaken" for a firearm.
Police believe the gardening equipment was stolen.
A Cleveland Police spokesperson said: "At 8.30pm on Wednesday 24 April reports were received of a man with a suspected rifle on Fulbeck Road.
"Police, including armed officers, attended to the area and located two men who were both detained on Penny Avenue.
"A search of the men and a property resulted in no firearm being located however gardening equipment believed to have been stolen was identified and thought to have been mistaken for the firearm."