POLICE have stressed that a large presence of officers in a community last night was down to a "concern for safety" issue.

Officers could be seen swarming around the Boundary Road and Campbell Street area of St Helens on Tuesday evening as searches were carried out.

A police helicopter was seen overheard later in the night and sniffer dogs were present.

Officers say their presence related to reports of "a concern for safety of a woman at a property" that was made on Tuesday afternoon.

The investigation was continuing this morning but limited details have been released due to the sensitive nature of the enquiries.

St Helens Star: Police carrying out searches on Boundary Road on Tuesday

A Merseyside Police spokesperson said: "Officers responded to an incident in St Helens today, Tuesday, June 14.

"At around 3.35pm we received a report of a concern for safety of a woman at a property on Boundary Road.

"There is no cause for concern to the public while we deal with this incident."

The incident was not connected to disturbances on Tuesday in the Cambridge Road area which resulted in four arrests in connection with affray and offensive weapons.