Armed officers and a helicopter were deployed by Surrey Police in Walton on Monday night (May 18) after they received reports of a man sighted with a weapon in the area. 

A statement released by the county police force Wednesday said that they had received initial reports from people claiming to have seen a man with a weapon around 1pm on Monday. 

They responded by searching the area with officers included an armed police response team and a police helicopter, but failed to find the man cited in reports. 

However, police alluded to the possibility of the weapon being a 'bb' plastic pellet gun after saying they had recovered a BB plastic ball near to wear the man was sighted. 

A spokesperson for Surrey Police said: 

"We are appealing for witnesses after reports of a possible sighting of a weapon in Walton-on-Thames on Monday 18 May.

"A police helicopter and armed response units were deployed to the area to search for a man who had been seen carrying a weapon, first in the area around Hersham train station at just after 1pm, and then later on in Langport Court between 6pm and 7.30pm.

"A thorough search of the area was carried out. Although the suspect was not traced, a BB plastic ball was recovered from the ground where he was seen to be standing." 

They also offered a description of the suspect in their appeal for information on what happened. 

He was described as a man in his early 20s, wearing dark clothing and a hoodie.

If you have any information that can help police, contact them by going on the Surrey Police website or calling 101 and citing PR/45210051665. 

Or speak with charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.