EXCLUSIVE: Men who waved imitation firearm at public in Maldon let off with cautions

ROAD BLOCK: Police seal off Park Drive by junction with Mill Road on Saturday

FOUR men involved in an incident that saw what appeared to be a handgun pointed at members of the public have been let off with cautions.

Armed police were called to reports of a passenger in the back of a black Volkswagen Golf pointing a gun at people in Park Drive, Maldon, Essex, in the early hours of Saturday, December 1, just after midnight.

An Essex Police spokeswoman said: "We were called shortly after midnight on Saturday, December 1, after a passenger in the back of a black Volkswagen Golf was seen pointing what was believed to be a handgun at members of the public."

REMOVAL: A black Volkswagen Golf is removed from Park Drive

They arrived and arrested two 21-year-old men and a 22-year-old man, all from Maldon, and a 20-year-old man from Eye, in Suffolk, on suspicion of possessing an imitation firearm in a public place.

Police sealed off the road from the junction with Mill Road.

At around 1.30am a vehicle was seen being removed from the road by a low loader and a police van filled with officers left the area.

Police said the men would not face charges.

The spokeswoman added: "They were given conditional cautions.

"It was the most appropriate sanction in this investigation."

An East of England Ambulance Trust ambulance was also seen attending an address in the road, however the events were unconnected.

A trust spokeswoman said: "We were called at 1.44am on December 1 with reports of a person who had collapsed with chest pains in Park Drive, Maldon.

"We sent an ambulance to the scene, however the patient was not taken to hospital."