ARMED POLICE have raided a Southampton address as part of a firearms probe.

Up to 30 officers - some wearing riot gear - stormed a house in Imperial Avenue in Shirley.

According to officers, the sting was part of an ongoing firearms investigation.

Riot vans blocked off the street between its junctions with English Road and Benson Road at about 7.45am.

Officers remained on the scene carrying out ongoing investigations for much of the morning.

Meanwhile, children at nearby Foundry Lane Primary were forced to take alternative routes to school.

One resident who wished to remain unnamed said: “I went outside to take my boy to school and saw there were police.

“We were told we could not leave the house.”

Another resident added: “The road was blocked in both directions. My wife saw two armed police officers round the back of the house opposite.

“The coppers came round to tell us they were in the area.”

As previously reported, one mum, who did not want to be named, said: “It was quite scary.

“I was walking along to breakfast club with my two kids and there were all these police in helmets and riot gear.

“I don’t know what they were doing but the road was blocked and we had to go in a different entrance”

One Imperial Avenue resident reported hearing shouting in the street and seeing around eight officers outside his window.

A spokesperson for Foundry Lane Primary School, said: “It is business as usual and the school is open as normal.

“No one from the school was involved in this morning’s incident.”

Officers have refused to reveal further information and if any guns were recovered citing “operational reasons.”

A police spokesperson said: “We can confirm that we carried out a pre-planned warrant in Imperial Avenue in Southampton this morning (Tuesday 7 January).

“No arrests were made. “