POLICE in Dorchester have released details of how an alarm was raised and officers responded to calls that a man was carryting a gun on a bus.

When he was stopped and searched it turned out to be a water pistol.

The police statement says: "At around 9.10pm on Thursday, 22 August we received a report of a man in possession of what appeared to be a firearm at a bus stop in Dorchester Road in Weymouth. It was further reported that the man then boarded a bus towards Dorchester.

"Dorset Police takes reports of firearms incidents very seriously and specialist officers were deployed, who stopped the bus outside Vivo Lounge in Weymouth Avenue at around 9.40pm.

"A man was detained in relation to the report and following enquiries it was ascertained that the reported firearm was a water pistol. The water pistol was recovered, and the man was given strong words of advice about the impact his actions could have had on both the local community and police resourcing. No further action was required.

"We would like to thank the members of the public on the bus who were affected by this incident.

"We would also like to reassure members of the local community that we will continue to respond swiftly and robustly to reports such as this as the safety of the public is our number one concern."