This is the dramatic moment armed police detained a man after a car carrying a suspected gun was involved in a crash in east London.

A huge police presence was stationed in Burdett Road, Mile End, at around 5pm after a car that was being pursued by police was involved in a crash.

Police were called to reports men were seen with a gun inside a car at around 4.50pm. Witnesses described a "crazy situation" as armed officers descended on foot while police helicopters circled overhead during a search for the suspects.

Three people fled the vehicle after it was involved in a crash with another car but have since been detained by armed officers.

Stunned bystanders said police chased one man ran into Mile End Park Leisure Centre off Burdett Road.

Pictures on social media show police inside the gym which was put on lock down as people were refused entry.

Trainee solicitor Can Ozkutan, 27, from Mile End, was on his way to the gym when the dramatic incident unfolded.

He told the Standard: “I was talking to a friend outside the gym when I heard lots of shouting round the corner.

“We looked round and the police officer had one guy down on the floor and was pointing a gun at his head and shouting at him not to move.

“Then there was a another guy who ran off around the stadium and another that ran into the gym, straight past us.

“Police ran into the gym after the guy and that is when they got a sniffer dog and a police helicopter to try and find him.”

Mr Ozkutan said he was kept in the gym for half-an-hour while armed police hunted the suspect.

He added: “They blocked off the door of the gym and would not let anyone in and were asking everyone if they had seen anything.

“Then more police with guns came in and said ‘this place is on lock-down’ and started questioning staff who saw the guy run in.

“It was crazy, I had no idea what was going on.”

Elaine O’Flynn, a 27-year-old civil servant from Mile End, was walking to a hockey game when she was stopped by police officers who had cordoned off Mile End park.

“There was probably five police cars, a helicopter and an ambulance when I walked past and they were putting up police cordons.

“Police said I couldn’t walk through the park because they were still identifying a suspect.

“Then I saw there were two smashed up cars and someone said there had been a car chase and the men had crashed.

“Apparently the guys then got out the car and ran into the gym.”

Scotland Yard said no shots had been fired and no injuries were reported.

A police spokesman said: "Police were called regarding males in a car seen with a firearm.

"This car failed to stop for police. In Burdett Road, this car was in collision with another vehicle.

"The occupants abandoned the car and attempted to flee the scene. Armed officers detained three suspected occupants from the car.

"There is a scene in Burdett Road with ongoing associated road closures."

Police added a gun had not been recovered from the scene.