Police at a Lower Hutt call out near Harrison Cr, where there are reports of armed people on the loose.

Armed police raided a Lower Hutt house on Thursday, where a suspected gunman was believed to have been holed up but the property was empty.

Police, including the armed offenders squad, were called to the Harrison Cres address after reports of a gunman at a house.

Police have now cleared the property and established that there was no one at the address.

A vehicle found at the property has been confirmed as stolen and is thought to be connected to the incident, police said.

A cordon was in place while the police conducted a scene examination, but has since been cleared, Wellington Senior Sergeant Steve Harwood said.

Police were still searching for the suspected gunman and a weapon on Thursday night, but there was not believed to be any threat to the public.

Earlier on Thursday Senior Sergeant Steve Dearns, of Hutt Valley, said a witness had reported seeing a man with a gun who then drove off in a white Ford car.

The incident was not thought to be gang related, he said.

The public is asked to contact 111 immediately if they notice anything suspicious.

Traffic was diverted around Daysh St and Park Ave in the area near Naenae College and Naenae Intermediate and diversions were in place at the corner of Oxford Tce and Harrison Crescent.

All diversions had since been cleared.

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