ARMED police were called last night after residents spotted a masked man walking the streets of Bicester with a running chainsaw.

Officers from Thames Valley Police's armed response unit and the force helicopter were called to Churchill Road about 5.25pm after receiving a call from concerned residents.

Police spokesman Toby Shergold said: "They found the man and discovered he had removed the blades from his chainsaw and was wearing what was possibly fancy dress.

"There was no threatening behaviour on his part. Our officers told him to cover up his outfit or he would be arrested or given a fixed penalty notice.

"He looked as though he was wearing fancy dress and was on his way to an event."