A MAN has been arrested on suspicion of affray, possession of an offensive weapon (part of a snooker cue) and assaulting a police officer.

A 23-year-old man from Worcester was arrested and remains in custody at Worcester Police Station after police attended reports of disorder in Hylton Road, Worcester today.

Initial reports suggested the man may have been in possession of a baseball bat but it was later found to be part of a snooker cue.

A spokesman for West Mercia Police said: "At approximately 11.40am this morning police were called to reports of a disorder on Hylton Road in Worcester. A member of the public reported that a man was carrying what is now believed to be part of a snooker cue.

"Police dogs were used to search the area and a 23-year-old man from Worcester was arrested on suspicion of affray, assaulting a police officer and possession of an offensive weapon. He currently remains in police custody. The incident is still being investigated, no members of the public were seriously injured in the incident."

These dramatic photographs show officers in pursuit of the man as officers on foot and in marked and unmarked cars swooped on an area by Worcester Arena, near the railway line.

An eyewitness said he saw officers between the side of the University Arena and the railway tracks. He said: "I saw about four or five officers run around the front of the arena, down the service road. There were two marked police cars, a police van and an unmarked police car and they were travelling at speed. Officers were looking in undergrowth near the railway tracks. Then after a couple of minutes they all sped off."

Another witness said: "Some of the Arena staff came out to watch what was going on in amazement." He said towards the end of the incident there were six police cars and seven to eight police officers.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101 and quote incident reference 0179S 140814.