A man armed with a samurai-style sword and wearing a hockey mask has been arrested on a street in north London.

The man was stopped in Islington by police who found the blade in a bag he was carrying.

A spokesman for the Metropolitan police said: “Police were called shortly after midnight on Friday 7 August to reports of a group of youths in Hornsey Road armed with bricks and sticks.

“As officers responded, a person was seen wearing a hockey-style mask carrying a large bag. On seeing the officers the person ran off. Officers gave chase and a male was subsequently detained.

“The mask and the bag, found to contain a samurai-style sword, were subsequently recovered.”

A 21-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon and is in custody at a police station in north London.