UK police said on Thursday they had arrested a man wielding a weapon who “was behaving in an intimidating manner” close to the home of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor in eastern England.

Norfolk police confirmed they had been called to an incident late on Wednesday near the Sandringham Estate “and the man was arrested on suspicion of a public order offence and possession of an offensive weapon”.

UK media reported that a man wearing a balaclava had allegedly threatened the former prince when he was out walking his dogs in the eastern Sandringham area.

The man had been sitting in his car when he saw Mountbatten-Windsor, and allegedly got out of the vehicle and headed towards the ex-prince shouting at him, the Daily Telegraph said.

Andrew had been accompanied by a member of his private security and fled to his own car, driving away at speed, the newspaper added.

It was the first media outlet to report on the incident.

Norfolk police said in a statement that “officers were called to Wolferton shortly after 7.30pm yesterday”.