THREE men were arrested after a gun was spotted being brandished on a Canvey street.
Traffic came to a standstill in Benfleet High Street on Friday afternoon as armed police swooped in to catch two of the suspects.
The dramatic scenes followed a police chase across the island and into Benfleet, after members of the public reported seeing a firearm in Holland Road, Canvey, at around 2pm.
Officers spent 30 minutes following a white Ford transit van, before armed police arrested a 25 year-old man and a 23 year-old man, both from Canvey.
Police later arrested another man, a 32 year-old also from the island.
Residents took to Twitter to post photos of armed police in the high street.
Passerby Ian Wilson, 44, from Southend said: "I was on my way back from Canvey heading to Southend when I sae the commotion.
"There appeared to be a police officer who had his gun drawn.
"There was a man being arrested and the police helicopter was circling overhead."
The 25 year-old suspect has been released on police bail until Monday, December 1, and the 23 year-old has been released on bail until Thursday, December 11.
The 32 year-old remains in custody being questioned by officers.
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