BARROW boxers were left frustrated when police stormed a competition after a gun scare.

James Braithwaite and Steve Eilbeck travelled to Glasgow to compete in the Lonsdale Box Cup international tournament but the event was scrapped after police received a report of a firearm at the Emirates Arena.

Organisers made the decision to shut down the event.

Barrow boxer James Braithwaite was set to take part in a super heavyweight bout on Friday - but that was cancelled due to logistical difficulties, he said.

He was then due to fight again on Saturday if he had won but the event was scrapped over the gun fears. 

He said: “There was a lot of confusion and logistic problems.

“We got told we had to leave as we had heard that someone got threatened with a gun and they rang the police.

“The judges said the police would be searching the place and shut it all down.

“It was a difficult weekend. When you go to box you spend so much time psyching yourself up mentally and then they say you’re not competing at two because now it's eight.

“Then you calm down and psyche yourself up again. Then it's tomorrow - and it burns you mentally.

“Then they ended it and we had to go home.

“At our club we had been training like mad and when it didn’t happen it was frustrating.”

Organisers MTK released a statement after the cancellation.

The MTK said: “We had the police attend the area with reports of a firearm within the building at 1.04pm with undercover police within the building confirming this.

“With not only one situation outstanding, the absolute paramount safety of everyone within the building oversees anything wrong with the event and we collectively agreed we had the police take over to evacuate the building having announced the closure of the tournament at 2:15pm without raising further alarm and distress.”

A Police Scotland spokesman said there was no undercover police officers at the venue.

“Around 1pm on Saturday, 25 June, officers received a report of a firearm at the Emirates Arena, London Road, Glasgow," said a spokesman.

“Uniformed officers attended and searched the area however there was no firearm recovered.

“Following discussion with event organisers and security, police monitored the cancellation of the event from a distance.

“Enquiries are ongoing.”

No arrests or injuries occurred.