ARMED police mistakenly pinned an innocent man to the ground following an alleged firearms incident in Basingstoke.

Police across the South were alerted after a man was threatened with an imitation firearm in Festival Place shopping centre in Basingstoke during office hours on Saturday.

Police believe the man making the threats was acting in retaliation for a previous incident in the Oakridge area of town on Friday night.

A description of the man was then circulated to neighbouring police forces by Hampshire Constabulary.

Acting on the description, armed officers from Dorset Police then swooped in on a 21-year-old black man, just before 6pm, at Bournemouth train station.

As stunned travellers looked on, gun-toting officers ordered him to the ground and he was searched and handcuffed.

The man, who is from Bournemouth, was identified by a police officer on a train travelling into Dorset and subsequently detained by two Dorset Police firearms officers when the train arrived at Bournemouth train station.

The man was taken to Bournemouth police station, but it quickly became clear it was a case of mistaken identity and he was released immediately.

A spokesperson for Dorset Police said a senior officer from the force has visited the man and his family and has apologised.

Officers are also providing ongoing support for the family in the form of a dedicated family liaison officer.

No shots were fired and no one was injured during the incident at Bournemouth train station.

* Three 18-year-old men and a 19-year-old men - all from Basingstoke - have since been arrested on suspicion of causing criminal damage, affray and possessing an offensive weapon.

Another 19-year-old man from Basingstoke was arrested on suspicion of causing criminal damage, affray, possessing an offensive weapon and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

All have been bailed to return to Basingstoke police station in September.