Armed police descended on a busy Southampton road yesterday after a man was seen holding a kitchen knife. 

At least a dozen police vehicles rushed to Portswood Road just before 10am after the man was seen holding the large knife by a nearby shop owner. 

Gordan Karod, 40, was having a cigarette outside when he saw the individual standing near parked cars.

READ MORE: Portswood Road: Arrest made after man seen with knife - as it happened

He claimed a bike lock was thrown towards a passing bus before he decided to call the police. 

Officers, armed with guns, were on the scene within four minutes and raided a nearby block of flats.

They have since arrested a 29-year-old from Liverpool.

A spokesperson said: “We were called to a report at 9.42am today (Thursday 7 March) to a report of a man, in possession of a knife, damaging vehicles in Portswood Road, Southampton.

“Officers attended the scene and detained a 29-year-old man from Liverpool.

“He was arrested on suspicion of criminal damage, possession of a knife blade / sharp pointed article in a public place, and affray.

“The man remains in police custody at this time and officers’ enquiries into this incident are ongoing.”

At the height of their response, at least a dozen vehicles were at the scene, according to eyewitnesses. 

These included around four to five police dogs. 

A video taken by a bystander showed a large group of officers bursting into a block of flats on the road.

Police remained at the scene into the afternoon with a police vehicle parked at Fullerton Place.

A small number of officers continued to conduct enquiries and reassure neighbours that the matter was being investigated thoroughly.

After the cordon was removed and Portswood Road reopened it was business as usual with shoppers going about their business further down the street.

Bluestar, Southampton's bus operator, said it did not have any records of a bike lock hitting one of its vehicles but was aware of the incident.