Timaru police still hunting armed man

Police have had no luck finding the armed man who sparked a lockdown in Timaru last night.

The armed offenders squad and a dog unit was called in about 9.50pm after a man was seern in Newman St with an object believed to be a gun.

Chris Dellow and several friends had been out driving when he saw a man dressed in dark clothing pointing what looked to be a rifle in the direction of Super Cheap Auto, on Evans St.

"When we drove past he followed us with the gun, he looked f---ing intense," Mr Dellow told the Timaru Herald.

Mid-South Canterbury area commander Inspector Dave Gaskin said officers did not find anyone in the area that had been sealed off.

Officers were stood down at 11.30pm and the man was not found overnight.

Mr Gaskin said there were no lasting concerns for the public's safety, but asked anyone with information to contact police.

- NZPA