IT'S difficult to imagine the sense of shock felt by those caught up in yesterday's scenes in the Cherry Tree area of Blackburn.

We've all seen similar action on our TV screens - a sudden screeching of brakes and heavily armed police shouting orders in suburban street that was a model of tranquillity moments before.

But that's fictional drama, not stark reality unfolding here in our own neighbourhood.

However as local residents get over their fright at something which will be talked about for years to come we should note that it was all carried out without anyone getting hurt.

And we should also remember that just two people have been arrested and there must be no suggestion of a community being under suspicion.

The fact that so many apparently carefully planned raids have taken place around the world in the past week might be scary but it should also be reassuring.

It shows that the police and security forces of many different countries are sharing intelligence and taking action to combat the scourge of international terrorism.

And hopefully we will be able to look back at the first decade of the 21st century as the one in which those who believe in talking rather than fighting won the War against Terror.