A GUN that was taken into a library was 'not real', say police. 

Armed police swooped to arrest a man after reports that he had walked into the Fairfield Centre, Worcester, with a gun.

When police arrived, they found that the man had discarded the weapon and left the premises, and he was detained by officers outside the building.

Details have now emerged of how Fairfield Primary School went into lock down during the incident.

All internal doors were locked and blinds were drawn with children told they were taking part in a safety drill to prepare them if an incident did happen.

West Mercia Police tweeted: "UPDATE on Worcester firearms incident - specialist officers have inspected the discarded item and it is believed to be an imitation firearm."

Superintendent Kevin Purcell said yesterday: "Officers recovered the weapon and arrested a 28 year-old man from Worcester on suspicion of a Firearms Act offence.

"The man remains in police custody at this time and nobody was injured during this incident.

"The incident is unconnected to any terrorist activity and I am grateful for the prompt response and actions from the Worcester community."

One eyewitness said she was concerned for her son who was in nearby Fairfield Primary School.

“I just felt sick when I got the text from the school [about the incident]," she said.

“You hear all these stories about things like this happening but you never think it will happen round here. It is getting too close to home.

“We’re very lucky actually, what with all the people that are around here, there’s the school and the nursery next door as well as the surgery – as long as everybody is okay that is the main thing.”

Cllr Andy Roberts, cabinet member with responsibility for children and families, said: "The school was made aware of an incident and the required protocols were followed.

"As this is an ongoing police investigation, it would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage."

Anyone who witnessed the incident should contact West Mercia Police on 101, quoting incident number 252s of 9 October 2017.