Armed police descend upon garage forecourt in Cleeve after ‘firearm …

Armed police descended upon a garage forecourt in a Somerset^[1] village after a firearm was reportedly seen. Alarms were raised to Avon and Somerset Police after a person reported a car containing a suspected firearm in the Portway area of Bristol at around 3.25pm today (Sunday, August 20).

Specialist police officers launched an investigation and it was established the vehicle was being driven along the A370 in North Somerset. The vehicle was found at an Esso petrol station in Cleeve near Weston-super-Mare at approximately 3.55pm.

According to residents, four armed police officers surrounded the vehicle with another person reportedly on his knees in front of officers. Numerous police vehicles were also parked at the garage.

Police officers searched the vehicle and its occupants and one person was found to be in possession of an air weapon. Officers gave the group “words of advice” and left the scene at about 4.45pm.

A spokesman for Avon and Somerset Police said: “We received a report at approximately 3.25pm today (Sunday 20 August) of a car containing a suspected firearm in the Portway area of Bristol. Enquiries to identify the vehicle were carried out and it was established it was being driven along the A370 in North Somerset.

“Officers were dispatched, supported by the National Police Air Service helicopter, and the vehicle was traced to a petrol station in Cleeve at about 3.55pm.

“Searches of the vehicle and occupants were carried out and it was established one person was in possession of an air weapon. Words of advice were given to them and officers left the scene at about 4.45pm.”

References

1. ^{^} Somerset (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
2. ^{^} The wacky little Somerset village with its own waterfall and a knitted welcome party (www.somersetlive.co.uk)