ARMED police arrested three men on suspicion of drugs offences after swooping in two towns.

Residents reported seeing armed officers and dog units in Hillside Road, Billericay, at about 8pm last night.

They were in the area after a 28-year-old man, from the Billericay area, was detained off Valley Road, Billericay, shortly before 6pm.

He was arrested on suspicion of possession of firearms with intent, possession of class A drugs with intent to supply and possession of drugs other than class A with intent to supply.

Another car was stopped in Valley Road a short time later and a quantity of drugs were found.

A 26-year-old man from Billericay was arrested on suspicion of possession of class A drugs with intent to supply and supplying a controlled drug.

A resident of Jacksons Lane, Billericay, said armed officers and dog units sealed off the road and appeared to be searching for someone.

He said: “It was pretty terrifying. It’s not something you see every day.

“I was concerned that there was some kind of madman on the loose so we locked all the doors until it all stopped.

“They were there for quite a while but I don;t know what was going on.”

The operation was linked to an operation that took place in Wickford at the same time.

A 24-year-old man from Wickford was also arrested in London Road, Wickford, at about 6.20pm on suspicion of possession of class A drugs with intent to supply.

Witnesses also reported seeing officers from the Met in Billericay but a spokesman could not confirm the force was involved.

An Essex Police spokesman said: “All are in custody awaiting questioning and inquiries are ongoing.”