SHOPPERS in busy market town centre were shocked to see armed police swoop on two men squabbling over a bottle of cider today (Friday, March 6) – one of whom was carrying an imitation firearm.

The drama unfolded near the Bridge pub off the Chester-le-Street market place at about 2.50pm after members of the public reported seeing a man brandishing a gun.

One of the men was shot with a baton round after he threw the fake pistol into a nearby car park, where it was later recovered.

Two men, believed to be in their early twenties, are tonight in custody after being arrested for a firearms offence and affray, respectively.

One eye-witness, who did not wish to be named, said: “I saw two lads fighting over a cider bottle.

“One was drinking from the bottle and the other was trying to get it off him.

“They were lying in the middle of the road outside the pub. You could tell they were drunk.

“As one got up I could see he had a gun down the back of his pants.

“I said “he’s got a gun” and all of a sudden police just appeared and came running up with helmets, goggles, body armour and guns.”

He added: “The lad with the gun took off out of my view. I think he ran through the pub and out the other door.

“The police ordered the other man to put his hands above his head and arrested him.”

Another bystander described seeing the second man throwing a gun away and being shot with a baton round.

He said: “I saw a man running. He threw a gun over the wall and I heard it smash.

“By this time the police were coming round both corners. He was fighting and I think someone shot him in the foot and he went down onto the floor.

“The police carried him to a car.”

A crime scene investigator later removed the imitation gun.

A police spokesman said: “Officers were called to an incident near the Bridge pub, in Chester-le-Street at about 2.50pm today.

“Firearms officers attended the scene following a report that a man had been seen with a gun.

“In order to carry out a safe arrest, it was necessary for a baton round to be discharged.

“The officer used the least lethal option available and the man was arrested and taken into custody. “The man has since been medically examined and has suffered no ill effects.

“No members of the public were injured during the incident.”