ARMED police cordoned off a Blackburn children's centre after staff reported seeing a man with a gun.

The alarm was raised at Shadsworth Children's Centre - which provides a variety of activities for young families - yesterday lunchtime.

Police blocked off part of Shadsworth Road and armed police approached a man standing near the entrance and challenged him about firearms.

Two imitation guns were recovered from the scene.

A 41-year-old local man, named by police as Romesh Hira, was due to appear before Blackburn magistrates today charged with possession of imitation firearms.

Inspector Stuart Bruce, of Blackburn Police, said: "A member of staff had seen a man acting suspiciously near the centre and rang the police to say they thought he might have a gun in his pocket.

"Officers cordoned off some of Shadsworth Road and armed police approached him and challenged him about guns.

"A man was arrested and placed in custody while

investigations continued into offences under the Firearms Act."

Staff at the centre refused to comment on the incident, but they said it was business as usual at the centre and that members of the public had nothing to worry about.

The Government is coming under growing pressure to impose stiffer penalties on people who are caught with imitation guns.

Coun Maureen Bateson, executive member for social services at Blackburn with Darwen Council, which runs the centre, said: "The staff at the centre acted in the best interests of the children there at the time.

"We are working with the police to see if any lessons can be learnt from this, but security of the youngsters has always been a primary consideration.

"The centre is very new, provides a variety of services and has been very well received by the community."

Shadsworth ward councillor Tony Humphrys today praised the staff at the centre.

He added: "I have every admiration for the way the staff at the children's centre handled the situation and the way they looked after the children.

"Something like this is always a concern, but until I know the full details I'd be reluctant to comment further on the situation."

The centre is one of more than a dozen being created across Blackburn with Darwen in a bid to offer all the services families need under one roof.

Education, social services and health facilities are all offered at the centres, which are used to host drop-in clinics, play groups, community meetings and creches.