A MAN has been arrested on suspicion of possession of a firearm outside Farnham Leisure Centre after a police manhunt on Wednesday evening.

Armed police responded to reports of 'a man with a gun’ in Snails Lynch, a narrow lane next to the BP garage off the A31 Farnham Bypass, shortly before 5pm on July 18.

The suspect was eventually tracked down near the leisure centre in Dogflud Way, and arrested on suspicion of possession of Class A and B drugs and possession of a firearm.

Police confirmed a replica firearm was seized, and the man has since been released under investigation.

An eyewitness told the Herald there were around “five or six” armed officers on the scene, with a “lad on his knees and handcuffed” at around 6.45pm.

Others reported seeing a helicopter circling the area, while another said police searched the man “for over half an hour outside the sports centre entrance”.

A Surrey Police spokesperson said: “We were called to a report of a man believed to be in possession of a firearm on Snailslynch Road in Farnham shortly before 5pm yesterday afternoon (July 18).

“Officers searched nearby areas and found a man near Farnham Leisure Centre.

“He was arrested on suspicion of possession of a Class A substance, possession of a Class B substance and possession of a firearm. A replica firearm was seized.

“He has since been released under investigation.”