Police called as fishing rods mistaken for rifle

Officers thanked the public for their "quick response"

Police have thanked the public for raising the alarm about a man on the heath seen possibly carrying a rifle - which turned out to be fishing rods.

Posting on Facebook, police said they responded to reports a man was spotted carrying a "rifle" in the Bemerton Heath area of Salisbury at about 11:30 BST on Tuesday.

Following a "thorough search" they said Wiltshire Police found a man matching the description they had been given.

They said the suspected firearm were his fishing rods but they wanted to "thank everyone for their patience while we made the area safe, and for the quick response from the community."