A MAN was arrested in connection with carrying an air gun after allegations that a suspect was seen near to a primary school this afternoon.

The incident happened on Monastery Lane, Sutton shortly after 3pm.

A police spokeswoman confirmed they had received reports that a man was carrying an an air rifle while standing beneath a disused rail bridge and that uniformed patrols were sent to the scene, close to St Anne's Primary School.

The police presence led to parents of some pupils at the school flooding Facebook with messages at collection time suggesting there had been a security alert at the school.

However, Merseyside Police said no incident had unfolded on school grounds and refuted social media claims that armed police were at the scene.

A spokeswoman added: "A 21-year-old man from Sutton was arrested on suspicion of possessing an air rifle in a public police and has been taken into custody.

"The incident was reported close to a disused rail bridge on Monastery Lane, Sutton."

The school could not be reached for comment this evening.

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