GUN DRAMA: Man arrested after weapon aimed at police outside house

A gun was aimed at five policemen in Preston '“ but failed to go off when the trigger was pulled.

The drama unfolded on the driveway of a bungalow in Ribbleton Avenue, Ribbleton, at 11am yesterday.

Police said a man had been involved in a domestic incident in Coppull at 10.30am, before driving into Preston.

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They claim there was no chase but when officers caught up with his Ford Focus, the man pulled into the drive of a dormer bungalow.

As he got out of the car the man pointed what appeared to be a handgun at officers and pulled the trigger, a police source said. The weapon did not fire and no-one was hurt.

The man was detained and a firearm has been recovered and is being analysed.

A 29-year-old man from St Helens has been arrested on suspicion of assault and possession of a firearm and last night was in custody. Detective Chief Inspector Kevin Mclean said: “These officers have shown incredible bravery in detaining this man after having a firearm pointed at them.

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“This incident just goes to show the sort of things that officers are faced with every day of their working lives.”

Yesterday afternoon a riot van and dog van were parked outside the bungalow and five officers were seen searching the garage.

The gate was locked, with a silver Mercedes and a red Audi A3 on the drive.

Local traders said they shocked at the number of police vehicles. One man said: “There were riot vans all over.”