Police rushed to the scene of a man suspected of being armed with a sword - only to find he was actually in possession of an umbrella.

Officers in Watford received a 999 call from Bushey Mill Lane this morning to reports of a a man walking down the road with a large sword.

He was then seen walking into a building on an industrial estate just off Greycaine Road.

Three armed response units and other police units flooded the area before entering the building the man had been seen going into.

The suspect was found and searched by armed officers.

Police then realised that the 'sword' was actually an umbrella with a sword-style handle.

The umbrella had been stored in a sheaf-like pouch.

Writing on its Facebook site, Watford Police say the man was given 'words of advice' about carrying around the the umbrella.