POLICE have swooped to a residential area after reports of a man with a firearm and a machete.

Police received reports of three men in the Nethermayne area of Basildon with the weapons at 11.15am today.

It is unclear what type of firearm the residents alleged they saw.

Officers attended and a search of the area was conducted but no-one was found.

A 21 year-old man from Basildon was later arrested on suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon and affray after attending Basildon police station.

He remains in custody.