A MAN has been charged with possession of a loaded/unloaded air weapon in a public place following an incident which saw armed police descend on Bournemouth town centre.

A 31-year-old from Bournemouth is due to appear at Poole Magistrates' Court on Friday, September 6.

Dorset Police were called to a report of a man with a gun in the subway near to Dean Park Road at 2.37pm on Wednesday, August 21.

Officers attended, including firearms officers, and carried out a search of the area.

This led to a man being detained in the Lower Gardens.