A woman has told how armed police stormed through her farm in the hunt for a suspected gunman.

Officers brandishing machine guns tracked the suspect to the farm in Canewdon with the help of members of the public, using mobile phones to keep tabs on him.

With the Essex Police helicopter hovering overhead, the officers found the man at Woodfield Farm in Apton Hall Road, where he was finally arrested.

Heather Creasey, who lives at Woodfield Farm, witnessed the entire incident along with her farm manager Jamie Hedges.

She said: "I just heard a terrific commotion and went outside to see loads of policemen with machine guns and a helicopter searching overhead.

"It landed close by and a young man was arrested and taken off in a police car.

"It was all very frightening really - not the sort of thing you expect to happen on your doorstep.

"Really it was more like something you see in a movie or on television."

Detectives today praised the public for their help in tracking down the man, alleged to have tried to rob a taxi driver at gunpoint in Stambridge Road, Rochford at 1.30pm on Thursday.

With the help of members of the public with mobile phones, the Essex Police helicopter took just 15 minutes to catch the man after it was drafted in to help with the chase.

Det Insp Cliff Haines from Rayleigh police said the arrest was the result of a genuine team effort by both police and the public.

He said: "The public gave us great assistance. Members of the public were also pursuing him and letting us know what was going on. It was a good arrest."

A 22-year-old man from Rayleigh was today being questioned by detectives at Rayleigh police station in connection with the alleged incident.

The incident was the second success of the day for the crew of the Essex police helicopter.

Earlier they had helped in the recovery of a stolen Ford Sierra Cosworth, stolen from Brentwood on Thursday.

Like something out of a movie - Heather Creasey with farm manager James Hedges at the farm where the gun drama took place

Picture: STEPHEN LLOYD

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