Police examine what appears to be a gun outside Hounslow Central station

Police put a cordon around the area outside Hounslow Central Underground station on Saturday afternoon, 3 October, while a forensic officer examined what appears to be a gun on the pavement.

Footage shared with UB1UB2 at around 1.30pm shows an inner cordon of police tape across the paved area in front of the station entrance on Lampton Road. Uniformed officers can be seen guarding the scene.

Inside the cordon, a crime scene investigator wearing gloves kneels on the pavement on a sheet of paper, examining an item and placing it in an evidence bag. Bags and other items lie on the ground nearby, and a small crowd of people watches from behind the tape near the station entrance.

What police have said

The Metropolitan Police has not publicly confirmed what led to the cordon, what the item was, or whether anyone was arrested or hurt.

It is not known how long the cordon stayed in place, or whether the station or Lampton Road was affected beyond the area outside the entrance.

Anyone who saw anything around Hounslow Central station on Saturday afternoon can contact the police on 101, or 999 in an emergency. Information can also be given anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

About the area

Hounslow Central is on the Heathrow branch of the Piccadilly line, between Hounslow East and Hounslow West. Its entrance is on Lampton Road, a short walk north of Hounslow High Street and the town centre, and it is used every day by commuters and shoppers.

The area is covered by the Met's Hounslow Central Safer Neighbourhoods Team. Its current published priorities include more patrols around transport hubs and work with the town centre team on robberies in and around the High Street and nearby roads. There is nothing to show that Saturday's incident is linked to either.

Local people can contact the team, and keep up with its news and meetings, through the Metropolitan Police website.