Why armed police were seen searching the Bristol and Bath railway path

Armed police were seen searching the undergrowth on the Bristol and Bath railway path on Friday afternoon - and the force has since explained why.

The officers were acting on a non-firearm incident, said Avon and Somerset Police in a statement. The force said they were searching the area after a car driver slipped a police chase and abandoned their vehicle in Easton.

The search was carried out, and a man in his 20s was arrested on suspicion of a number of driving offences and assaulting an emergency worker.

The statement read: “Officers conducting a mobile patrol shortly before 1.30pm on Friday 25 August sighted a Volkswagen Polo which was suspected of being driven without insurance in Bristol city centre. The driver failed to stop for police and was followed before the car was lost to sight. It was then shortly afterwards found abandoned in the Brixton Road area at approximately 1.35pm.

“An area search was carried out and one person detained. A man, in his 20s, was arrested on suspicion of a number of driving offences and assaulting an emergency worker.”