Three men have been arrested on suspicion of possession of a firearm after an incident in Carlisle.

Armed police responded to concerns, following a report at about 1pm of people acting suspiciously in a vehicle in the Raffles area of the city.

A Cumbria Police spokesman said: "Officers, including armed officers, were deployed.

"The car, which reportedly contained a number of men, was followed as it left the scene.

"Police stopped the vehicle on Wigton Road, Carlisle.

"Three men were arrested on suspicion of possession of a firearm."

He added: "There is no ongoing threat to the public at this time."

Shocked bystanders could only watch as traffic control measures were put in place while police, some of them armed, responded to the incident opposite the B&M Bargains Store on Wigton Road.

Witnesses spoke of seeing at least two men being led away in handcuffs.