Villagers have been left "fearful" following serious incidents in two sleepy south Oxfordshire locations involving a machete and a knife on the same night.

Armed police and helicopters were called to Southmoor to reports of a "man with a machete making threats" while officers also responded to an alleged assault in Berinsfield which left a man with a stab wound to the neck on Wednesday evening.

The reports of the "man with a machete" were received at around 6.15pm at the junction of Wellington Road and Faringdon Road as villagers were alerted to the incident by a helicopter circling overhead.

READ MORE: Delays and diversions after car fire closes A34 throughout night

Police confirmed on Friday that a 30-year-old man from Oxfordshire remains in police custody after being arrested on suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon in a public place and a public order offence.

Thames Valley Police said the force also recovered a machete from the scene.

Fiona Pocock, who lives in Kingston Bagpuize next to Southmoor, said her initial reaction to the police presence in the area was “somewhat fearful”.

Police were called to two south Oxfordshire villages on the same evening Police were called to two south Oxfordshire villages on the same evening (Image: NQ) “I decided to lock my doors when I heard the police sirens, even though my front door was newly painted and really I’d have preferred it to dry more,” she said.

“On hearing more, I was incredulous that such a thing should have happened in our small, quiet village.

“It seems so incongruous within our context that there could be such distress.

“When I read today that the police were armed I was even more surprised and so grateful nobody seems to have come to harm.”

A Kingston Bagpuize with Southmoor parish councillor, who asked to remain anonymous, also said the incident has raised “concern”.

She added not all parish councillors were aware of the incident during a meeting on that night.

The parish councillor said: “The police felt it was necessary to inform us. It is known it was a serious incident, simply because a police helicopter was circling over for so long.

“At a meeting last night, other parish councillors were not aware of what had happened.

“Obviously it is a concern.”

READ MORE: City centre cinema replacement branded 'ugly' as hotel plan unveiled

In Berinsfield, 15 miles away from Southmoor, police responded to reports of an assault which left a man with knife wounds in the neck at around 9.20pm on the same day.

A man needed emergency care following reports of an assault near a parade of shops.

The green in Berinsfield where the incident took placeThe green in Berinsfield where the incident took place (Image: Newsquest)

Nearby homeowners said they first heard police sirens in the village at around 9.20pm on Wednesday before a forensic tent was seen on the green area next to the St Mary & St Berin Church car park in Green Furlong.

One homeowner admitted the incident "scared her children" and said the cordon was in place throughout the night but had been removed by the time she had woken up at 6.30am.

Villagers also took to social media after the incident with reports of multiple police cars and ambulances parked by the flats near the church opposite the Co-op.

District councillor Robin Bennett, who represents Berinsfield, has also been contacted for comment.

The Green Party councillor said he was not aware of this incident when we approached him on Thursday morning.

He has been contacted again for comment on Friday.

Thames Valley Police is appealing for anyone with information to come forward and contact the force on 101 or by making a report online quoting investigation reference number 43240302166 for the incident in Berinsfield and reference number 43240301855 for the incident in Southmoor.

The Oxford Mail has approached Thames Valley Police for the latest update on each incident.