EXTENSIVE searches of the gardens in Bournemouth town centre were carried out following reports that knives had been "stashed" within the bushes.

Officers attended the scene following claims that three kitchen knives had been found on Thursday evening.

The searches led to one large kitchen knife being recovered.

A Dorset Police spokesperson said: "We received a report at around 8.50pm on Thursday, January 7, that three kitchen knives had been found in bushes in Bournemouth Gardens.

"Officers attended and carried out searches of the area. One knife was located in the bushes. Further extensive searches were carried out but no other knives were located."

A spokesperson for Bournemouth Police added: "Please keep reporting anything you feel is suspicious to us.

"This report could well have prevented something serious happening in the future.We really appreciate your calls and always do our best to act on them."