ARMED police swooped on a town centre after a suspected gunman allegedly walked the streets threatening strangers.

The swat team was called to Burgess Hill early on Saturday morning after a man allegedly pulled a gun on a fellow customer at a pub.

It is alleged he then threatened another man in a car and then a couple before police made an arrest.

Piers O’Sullivan, landlord of the Brewers Arms in London Road, called the police after a man threatened one of his customers.

He said: “It was quite scary actually. We’ve never had anything like that happen before so I didn’t really know what to do.

“Burgess Hill is a nice place to come for a drink. It is usually quiet. It must have been terrifying for the people he approached.”

The man is believed to have arrived at the pub at about midnight and got into an argument with a punter.

Sussex Police said he threatened a man outside the pub and pulled out a gun.

Mr O’Sullivan added: “I was in the back garden at the time and someone came over to tell me what had happened.

“I didn’t really know what to do. It’s not a situation I have been in before.

“I called the police and they arrived just minutes later. Meanwhile the man had walked off.”

Police said he then allegedly made his way to Lower Church Road, where he demanded a lift from and threatened a driver outside the Tim Ley Chinese takeaway.

After he refused it is said he continued up the road and threatened a couple and showed them the gun.

Eyewitnesses reported police cars driving through red lights and armed officers combing the area with guns and torches.

One witness said the officers were also on the train tracks.

At 1am in Burgess Hill, officers arrested a 24-year-old from Brighton for possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence and making threats to kill.

A police spokeswoman said: “No weapon was found on him and no one was hurt. He was also arrested for theft. He has been bailed until December 6.”

The following morning, police search teams with dogs looked for the weapon.