ARMED police swooped on Barrow following reports of a gun being brandished inside a chip shop.

Around a dozen specially-trained officers armed with weapons were seen in the town centre following an alleged incident at the Olympic on Buccleuch Street.

A cordon was in place between The Diamond and Rawlinson Street for much of the afternoon yesterday.

Access to streets including Manchester Street was also restricted.

One witness said: "A man came in to order some fish and chips.

"After about 10 minutes he came back shouting 'where's my fish and chips?'.

"Then I saw a gun."

One resident expressed her fear at seeing armed police near their house.

"It was so scary to see," she said.

"There was loads of officers just outside my door - I didn't want to leave."

A police spokeswoman said yesterday: “A search has been conducted at a flat in Manchester Street, Barrow this afternoon, in relation to an incident where a man aged 31 has been arrested on suspicion of possessing an imitation firearm.

“As a precaution, armed officers were deployed to the scene.”