Residents are 'anxious' and 'concerned' as an Oxford park is suddenly closed off by police.
Local people living in Horspath Road, Cowley reported some unease at the large police presence on their doorstep, which reportedly began on the night of Sunday, November 8.
Although noises, including fireworks from the park were heard late into the evening, many did not realise the force had arrived until the next morning, Monday, November 9.
Hollow Way Recreation Ground was closed to the public and remained shut into the afternoon, with police tape covering every entrance and multiple officers and vehicles in attendance.
READ MORE: PHOTOS: Oxford recreation park closed off amid major police presence
In addition, plain-clothes police detectives were also seen, interviewing potential witnesses and exploring the park.
"It makes me anxious," said Adele Hearn who has lived in the area with her partner Tom Hearn for 13 years.
She added: "I do not like to think that this happens where I am living."
Jeff Cousins, 56, said: "I do not feel great about it. I only moved here two days ago from Dover.
"What is going on?"
Police were contacted about the incident early on Monday but as of 3.30pm had not commented on the incident.
"Sometimes this stuff happens but it does make me uncomfortable," said Asma Ramzan who has lived in the area for nearly six years.
Although she was sleeping, she said her husband heard fireworks noises coming from the recreation ground and later spoke to police after they had arrived.
Mr Hearn added: “There were a lot of fireworks; that was about it. It sounded like a bit of a party, which is not uncommon around this time."
"It was loud," said Ms Hearn, who was annoyed the fireworks had gone on until late but otherwise had thought little of it until the morning.
"I did not know anything until the police knocked," she added.
The night of the incident was Diwali while there have been numerous other events involving fireworks over the past week related to Guy Fawkes or Bonfire Night.
A 45-year-old woman who wished to remain anonymous said that people were setting off fireworks in the park after 10pm and then the police turned up.
She said: "Well it was noisy, but it is pretty normal for this type of evening. This time last year it was the same."
READ MORE: LIVE: Police lock down Oxford recreation park after incident
Even so, she said a large police presence in the area was unusual.
She explained: "I have lived here for more than 10 years and it is the first time it has been cordoned of for this amount of time.
“I am obviously concerned; it is pretty much a family area."
The Hearns agreed while a 38-year-old woman - who also wished to remain anonymous - called it "mad".
"It seems like a nice area and I trust that park," she said, "I walk through it all the time".
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