A HUGE police presence shut off parts of central Reading last night (Thursday) following claimed sightings of a man wielding a gun.

Armed officers were called to Vachel Road at 7.30pm after a member of the public reported a group of men sitting in a car, one of whom was armed. 

Police cordoned off the surrounding roads of Greyfriars Road and Sackville Street as they moved in.

No firearm was found but the five men were arrested on suspicion of affray - a public order offence that typically relates to the unlawful threat or use of violence.

Thames Valley Police spokesperson Lucy Billen said: "At 7.30pm we had a report of a man in a car with a firearm.

"We had a description of a vehicle and we matched it in Vachel Road.

"Three men were arrested from the car and two were arrested nearby on suspicion of affray.

"Three of them were in their 20s, two in their 30s."