From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] TOY GUN SALESMEN SPARK MAJOR POLICE ALERT 071355 FEB 10 By Jane Merrick, PA News A commuter sparked a major police alert today after seeing what he believed to be two men wielding guns on board a train - but who were actually salesmen with a bag full of toy pistols. The concerned man left the Liverpool to West Kirkby train shortly before 10am today and telephoned police to warn them the pair were on board. A specialist armed response unit from Merseyside Police intercepted the commuter train further down the line and took positions to prepare a stand-off. But within minutes it emerged the two "gunmen" were toy salesmen and their "weapons" were children's plastic toy guns. The officers left the train, which had been stopped at Manor Road station, near Hoylake, Wirral, and the two salesmen were allowed to continue their journey. A spokesman for British Transport Police said: "We received a telephone call at 9.55am from a passenger on the Liverpool to West Kirkby train. "He had left the train at Birkenhead station to tell us he had seen two men travelling on the train in possession of handguns. "The train was intercepted at Manor Road and boarded by armed officers. "The two males in question were spoken to and it would seem they were in possession of a quantity of children's toys, including toy guns. "It was established that they had purchased them from a local market and were taking them to the Wirral for re-sale. "They were then allowed to continue their journey." The spokesman would not comment on how many armed officers boarded the train but added: "Any sort of call is obviously treated seriously and we have to take precautions." A spokeswoman for Merseyside Police said: "One of our armed response teams was called to the incident at the request of British Transport Police." Kenneth Pantling Cybershooters website: http://www.cybershooters.org List admin: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ____________________________________________________________ T O P I C A -- Learn More. Surf Less. Newsletters, Tips and Discussions on Topics You Choose. http://www.topica.com/partner/tag01
