A MELKSHAM man has been spoken to by Wiltshire Police after being seen carrying a replica handgun in the street.

Firearms officers and ambulance services raced to the Bowerhill area yesterday after a resident reported seeing the man with a gun.

The call came in shortly before 2pm yesterday and officers, including armed response, attended along with ambulance service emergency responders.

It is understood the man is a re-enactment enthusiast although police could not say in which period in history he is interested.

Wiltshire Police said: “We received a report that a man at an address in Halifax Road, Melksham, had been seen carrying what was believed to be a handgun.

“The officers spoke to the occupants of the address and clarified that the handgun was in fact a replica which was used for re-enactments.

“The owner was given words of advice by police. No arrests were made and nobody was injured. The scene was clear by 3.30pm.”

A South Western Ambulance Service Trust spokesman added: “We were called around mid-afternoon to attend a suspected firearms incident.

“We attended this incident with hazardous area response teams and an ambulance because of reports someone was injured.

“However, no patients required treatment at this location. This incident was dealt with by police.”