A man in his 20s was bundled into a car in a suspected kidnapping on a "quiet" street.
Police taped off Janes Brook Road in Southport at around 8pm on Thursday, with residents reporting a helicopter flying overhead.
Three men, aged between 36 and 39 and from Southport, were arrested on suspicion of kidnapping.
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Merseyside Police say a man in his 20s, believed to have been the victim, was found safe and well and enquiries are ongoing.
One man, who lives near Janes Brook Road, told the ECHO : "It's normally such a quiet road, the people who live here are mostly just families.
"I've never seen anything like it."
Officers were called at around 7.30pm, to reports that a man had been bundled into a car.
Detective Inspector Leanne Toole said: “This will have been a shocking incident to experience or witness and, although three men are in custody, our investigation continues.
"I would ask anyone who saw anything suspicious, lives locally or was passing and captured any footage or images to come forward.
"We are determined to identify the circumstances and put those involved before the courts."
Anyone with information is asked to contact police via @MerPolCC on Twitter, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 with reference 21000663788.
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