A man has been detained under the Mental Health Act following a man hunt in Bude.

At around 9.15pm last night (March 29), Police received multiple calls from the public reporting sightings of a man walking around Bude in his underwear and carrying a nine-inch carving knife.

A local PCSO located and followed him at a safe distance, whilst support from the armed response unit made its way to the scene. However, the suspect fled the area before the unit’s arrival.

Armed response officers, with support from Search and Rescue teams and the police helicopter, undertook localised searches including at the local nature reserve and wetlands to find the man.

A 38-year-old local man was safely detained at around 11pm. He is now receiving reports from mental health professionals.