Armed police were called to reports of a group of men with shotguns only to find it was a clay pigeon shoot.

Builder Paul Goodman was with a group of friends on his own land, near to Great Notley Discovery Centre, when they saw the armed unit arrive at about 3pm on Sunday.

The 53-year-old of Long Lane, Rayne, has been holding clay pigeon shoots with friends for years but has never had anything like this happen.

He said a man started shouting at them but they were too far away to hear.

He claims the man then trespassed onto his land and was told to go back.

Mr Goodman said: “I saw him on the phone ringing so I knew the police would turn up, but we weren’t doing anything wrong.

“I saw four policemen out the back near the Discovery Centre and a few round the back.

“They just came and spoke to us.”

Shotguns and led pellets are used in clay pigeon shooting.

An Essex Police spokesman said: “Firearms officers attended along with the police helicopter and established the men were part of an organised clay pigeon shoot.”

She added the caller's concerns were taken seriously but all was found to be in order.