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Nimes railway station in southern France was evacuated after reports that 'three armed men' were being hunted on the first day of the Vuelta a Espana cycling tournament.

Police boarded a TGV train travelling from Paris to Montpelier to search for suspects, but they said no guns or ammunition were found.

Passengers were asked to put their hands in the air as officers searched carriages one by one.

Passengers have tweeted that everyone is 'calm and unstressed'.

It was earlier reported that men had 'jumped off the train and started shooting' - but that was quickly denied by police.

Officers wrote on Twitter that there had been no shooting - contrary to reports one hour earlier.

Train services were briefly cancelled and passengers told to reschedule their journeys, but by 11pm the "situation was practically back to normal", said the Gard Prefecture official.

The French town today hosted the first stage of the Vuelta Ciclista to Spain - and the incident occurred hours after the end of the first stage of the competition.

People were urged to avoid the area until further notice while police searched the station.

(Image: Google)

One witness Paul de Chabalitosse wrote on Twitter: "Great to arrive at Nimes station where the police are shouting at you to run outside quickly with guns in their hands."

One witness tweeted a photo of two armed officers outside the station.

The incident reportedly occurred at 9.15pm (8.15pm UK time) - and passengers were seeing fleeing the station on the orders of police.

Cycling hero Chris Froome is one of the British entrants taking part in the Vuelta a Espana, Spain's equivalent of the Tour du France, which begins in France.

A number of journalists are reportedly on lockdown in a nearby newsroom - several of whom tweeted that a shooting had taken place.

Journalist Alcaro Garcia wrote on Twitter: "We are being held in the newsroom in Nimes by a shooting at the station in the city."