Armed police descended upon the Hatfield estate in Witham yesterday (July 17) in a bid to find a man wielding a samurai sword.
Essex Police also dispatched a police helicopter shortly after 5.30pm after a 17-year-old local boy reported the man hacking away at bushes with the weapon.
Speaking to the Chronicle he said: "I was walking to my mate's who lives in King Edward Way at the top of the estate, walking on the right hand side of the road, when two males crossed from the other side.
"I didn't see it at first, but he was hitting the bushes with something, and when he brought it out of the bushes i saw what it was, a samurai sword with a black handle.
"He looked pretty p***ed and I thought he might come towards me so I ran down the road."
The teenager, who did not wish to be named, said two police cars, and 15 minutes later armed officers, arrived after he reported the incident.
"I was worried, worried for everyone's safety," he added. "And I thought if I didn't get the police quickly enough someone could get seriously hurt or killed."
He described the man wielding the sword as being of mixed race, wearing a black t-shirt, shorts stretching down to his knee caps, and being 5ft 8ins tall.
He said the other man was black and was 6ft 3ins tall. He described them both as being aged in their 30s and 40s.
Essex Police however told the Chronicle they are not seeking further information from the public.
A spokesman confirmed they received reports of a man wielding a samurai sword.
The spokesman said: "Police were called to Hatfield Road shortly after 5.30pm following reports of a suspicious man who was thought to be carrying a bladed object.
"The helicopter was dispatched to help with the search for the man but found no trace."
