A MAN who sparked a large police presence after being found with a firearm in Hereford yesterday afternoon has been fined £40.

Wayne Powell, 48, of Barrs Court Road, Hereford, pleaded guilty at Hereford Magistrates Court to possessing a firearm this morning.

The incident happened at 4.45pm yesterday when police received reports of a trespasser at a premises in the Holmer Trading Estate in Hereford.

A man was believed to have been attempting to gain access to a premises and was reported to have been carrying an unknown item.

Police attended and Powell was arrested under suspicion of burglary and possession of a firearm.

Several police cars arrived at the scene and a police helicopter was flying over the area last night.

Dog walkers on the western edge of Aylestone Park (known by many parents as the Pirate Ship park) were told to make their way back to College Road via the Victoria Park housing estate - and to avoid the footpath running alongside the nearby Holmer Trading Estate.

Powell was ordered to pay a £40 fine, £30 victim surcharge and £35 costs for the offence.