Residents of South Ham were left startled after hearing 'gun shots' yesterday evening. 

A teenager has been arrested on suspicion of making threats to kill after an incident in the Dibley Road area on Sunday at around 8.30pm. 

LIVE UPDATES: Police corden off park in South Ham after suspected 'shooting'

Now, residents near the park have reacted after hearing the loud bang whilst enjoying a sunny bank holiday Monday evening.

Basingstoke Gazette:

One resident, Terri Patrick, was with her partner Stuart Angus in the garden of their property on Cornish Close when they claim they heard a gun shot at around 8.30pm.

The mother-of-seven told The Gazette: “We heard a big gun shot. All the birds went crazy in the sky. My daughter, 9, was supposed to be going to bed and she saw three people out her window.

"They were young-ish boys, wearing black and black masks. 

“It’s usually quite quiet round here.

"Normally a lot of kids use that park, my kids normally play at that park but thankfully I’ve not been letting them go down there. I know they are safer in the garden.”

Meanwhile, 44-year-old Roberta Johnson was eating dinner with her children when they heard the bang, and said they thought nothing of it.

It was when her 15-year-old daughter took their dog out for a walk at 9.15pm that they realised there was armed police and unmarked cars in the road.

“When we heard the bang we thought it was a bit strange.

"It didn’t sound like a gun shot it, it was very loud but it sounded like something hitting something else, or like the bang of a firework. We just ignored it and went back to eating our dinner.

"We looked out the window and there were at least 4 armed police and two unmarked cars blocking the road. My first thought was to go and find her because she’s only 15 and she’s only small.

Basingstoke Gazette:

“When you see them unload a boot full of guns and no one has knocked on your door or told you what is happening it is a bit scary. 

“It’s quite quiet round here really, there’s sometimes trouble up at the One Stop but that’s far enough away that it doesn’t reach here.

"The younger kids use the park in the day time and then in the evenings the older kids meet there."

Friends Laura Williams, 27, and Rebecca Hooker, 22, both live in a block of flats on St Michael’s Road.

They didn’t hear a bang, but went for a walk to the shops at around 9.55pm and saw six police cars, armed officers and two sniffer dogs.

“I have a five-month-old son so it’s quite scary knowing this is happening on your doorstep,” said Laura.

Rebecca added: “Its a bit scary to know that we literally live around the corner and this sort of stuff is going on, especially at a kids’ park. 

“We live in a communal block and it’s not exactly the quietest so when you see police you think ‘who have they come for this time?!’

"You can tell we are out of lockdown because during lockdown nothing was kicking off, then we get out and this happens at a children’s park!”

Police remain at the scene this morning and specialist search officers are said to be en route.

Hampshire Constabulary have been contacted for comment.