POLICE raced to a Laindon road looking for a gun.

Officers swooped on Markhams Chase, Laindon, after reports of a gunshot being fired followed by the sound of a woman screaming.

After failing to find a weapon, officers moved onto neighbouring homes.

One neighbour, who did not want to be named, said four marked police cars and two unmarked cars raced down the street at about 4.20pm/ She said: "I didn't hear anything, so the first time I knew something was wrong was when I saw all these armed police turn up.

"There seemed to a lot of standing around and waiting, so I don't think they managed to find anything.

"I would be really shocked if someone was actually shot around here. It's normally a really quiet area."

A spokesman for Essex Police said: "Armed police were called to a home in Markhams Chase, Laindon, following reports of a disturbance.

"Officers went to the scene at 4.20pm and were making enquiries door-to-door to find out what happened."

There have been no arrests made.