POLICE launched a search for a man who had been spotted with a machete.

Several people reported they had seen the man with a large knife in Market Square, Braintree, at roughly 1.40am on Saturday.

He was described as being around 6ft 2ins tall and of medium build. He was bald and wore a black body warmer with a grey t-shirt underneath and grey jogging bottoms.

Officers attended searched the area.

The police helicopter was also scrambled but there was no trace of the man or the knife.

Anyone with information, or CCTV or dash cam footage available, is asked to call Braintree Community Policing Team on 101 quoting incident number 100 of September 15.