A MAN has been arrested after allegedly waving a 10-inch machete around in Leigh.

Three police officers were seen bringing a man to the ground and arresting him on the junction of Rectory Grove, Southsea Avenue and Broadway West at about 1pm.

Toby Britton said: “As I came along the Broadway, I was stopped by someone who said ‘don’t go down there, there’s a madman waving a knife around.’

“Then, as I turned around, I saw a man running out of a house with a 10 inch machete and run into another property before the police followed him in and three policemen led him out and arrested him on the ground.”

A spokesperson for Essex Police said: “Police have arrested a man following a disturbance in Leigh this afternoon.

“Officers were called to Rectory Grove at 12.45pm following reports of a man going in and out of an estate agent and shops nearby.

“He had a kitchen knife in his hand and was making threats to a person who we believe lives in nearby flats.

“Officers arrested a 38-year-old man and he has been taken to a police station for questioning.

“The knife was recovered and no-one was injured.”