Reports of a missing man being seen in Moulton brought a strong police presence into the village on Tuesday.
A search for the man, reported missing from another police area, took place in East Cobgate at about 3.20pm and local residents claim that as many as six police cars were drafted in.
Police said they were called by a member of the public who thought they recognised the man from a description given out previously, but they were unable to find him.