ARMED police surrounded a charity building during an early morning raid.

Police swarmed the YMCA building in Magdalen Street around 8am today.

An Essex Police spokesman said: “An 18-year-old man from Colchester was arrested by armed police in Magdalen Street in the town shortly before 8am, on suspicion of being in possession of an illegal firearm.

“He is currently being questioned by detectives at Colchester Police Station.”

See Thursday's Gazette for the full story.