'Knife' man report sparks police hunt

Residents of Artillery Way in Thatcham told the Newbury Weekly News that police cars and officers descended on the estate with sirens blaring and lights flashing after reports a man was acting strangely in the field nearby.
The alarm was sparked by two children who said they saw the man with a yellow handled knife inside a ‘den’ next to the local cadet hut- a hilly mound used by local youngsters as a hiding place/play area.
A resident who asked not to be named said she had reported him to the police for pestering children, however Thames Valley Police denied this was the case and said categorically that the man they were looking for did not speak to the children and may not even have been aware of their presence.
Thames Valley Police spokesman Craig Evry said officers were called at 10.59am on Sunday to attend, but the man was seen to run off in the direction of Battalion Way.
“Officers attended and carried out a search of the local area but the man was not located and enquiries are continuing.
“Based on the report we have received there has been and will continue to be enhanced police patrols of the local area.
“We would like to speak to him to clear the matter up, it could be entirely innocent; it has not been reported or logged as a crime.”
Rumour swept over nearby streets as neighbours took pictures of the police cars and posted information on social network sites Twitter and Facebook.
The grassed play area was deserted at 4pm on Tuesday afternoon despite being bathed in sunshine.
Battalion Way resident Jo Oliver said: “There were loads of police around here. It did cause a bit of a panic, everyone has been talking about it. The kids won’t go near that play bit now, this place is normally overrun with children but they won’t play on there anymore.”