A cricket match was abandoned and armed police were called after an arrow launched from outside the ground landed on the field.

The metal-tipped arrow landed on the Oval playing surface, near the players and umpires, during the clash between Surrey and Middlesex.

Fans were urged to take cover and move inside after the incident, and the fixture was eventually abandoned as a draw.

The projectile, which is now in the possession of the Metropolitan Police, landed near Surrey fielder Ollie Pope and is thought to have been fired into the ground from outside the boundary walls.

Middlesex batsman Nick Compton immediately pointed towards the upper parts of the OCS Stand, suggesting that the arrow had come from that direction.

The Independent understands multiple arrows were found during the investigation.

An umpire shows the arrow as a steward and Surrey's Stuart Meaker look on (Twitter/@topmanjem)

Surrey’s Stuart Meaker tweeted: “we have just officially gone off the field because a metal tipped arrow just landed on the pitch.”

One source, who insisted there was no way this could be an accident, suggested that the projectile appeared to have been fired from a crossbow.

Surrey County Cricket Club and the police are investigating the incident, with armed police now on the scene. A statement said: "Police were made aware at 4.35pm of reports that an arrow or crossbow bolt had been loosed into the Oval Cricket ground.

"There are no reported injuries. At this early stage it is believed that the object came from outside of the ground.There have been no arrests. We retain an open mind as to motive. Enquiries continue.”