The force posted a message on social media on Sunday morning telling the public about the ongoing incident and saying they would not be able to respond to non-urgent calls but providing no more information.

It took them three hours to post a second message saying there was no major incident but offering no explanation or apology.

Members of the public have been criticising the force online, accusing it of peddling "misinformation" and of causing needless alarm.

One wrote that their second post was "not going to cut it", adding: "How the hell do you publish a social media statement like that in........

© Norwich Evening News