A 41-YEAR-OLD man who caused a terror alert at a children's centre has been hit with an ASBO.

Blackburn magistrates banned Romesh Hira inhaling lighter fluid in public after he was seen outside the Shadsworth centre in October carrying imitation firearms.

Armed police were among a full scale emergency response team activated when staff raised the alarm.

Hira, of St Peter Street, Blackburn, was previously convicted of two charges of possessing an imitation firearm in public and jailed for three months.

But due to the time he spent in custody on remand, he was immediate released.

The anti-social behaviour order bans Hira from buying butane gas and from possessing any weapons other that those used for religious ceremonies, while prohibiting contact with his two children or their mother, entering or loitering their school from 8.30am to 4.30pm or going within 100metres of their home.

The court was previously told a male school staff member had sat with Hira, who was inhaling lighter fuel, to keep the situation calm.

And Kevin Mott, a former psychiatric nurse, said he had not considered his personal safety on October 26 when Hira was eventually arrested and police recovered two toy guns.

The court heard Hira was due for a 3pm supervised access meeting with his two children at the centre. But he arrived at 11.30am. When Mr Mott, a family support worker, he said he noticed Hira seemed slow and his behaviour was strange. About 20 minutes later a colleague later warned him they thought Hira had a gun.

"I could see what appeared to be guns," said Mr Mott. "I said I would go and sit with him and as I walked out he put the items away."

Asked why he had gone after seeing the guns Mr Mott said his primary concern had been the children.

"This man was pushing a lighter fuel can against his teeth and drinking or inhaling it and he was smoking," said Mr Mott. "My thoughts were to keep him in conversation and distract him."

Hira told the court he had bought the toy guns from a £1 shop as a belated birthday present for his son.

He said he had placed them on the bench while he was tidying his bag. He denied being threatening in any way during the incident and claimed he had been polite at all times.

During the trial, Hira was asked if one of the reasons he was only allowed supervised access with his children was the fact that he inhales lighter fluid.

"That may be," said Hira. "I'm not proud of it, I'm not ashamed of it but taking lighter fuel doesn't make me a bad father."