A MAN fired an imitation handgun in the grounds of Clitheroe Castle and pointed it at terrified schoolchildren as they ran away.

One of the boys pushed his friend to the floor and dived to the ground, because he did not know if the weapon was real or not, a court was told.

Tyrone Lee Bridges, 31, of Corporation Street, Clitheroe, pleaded guilty to possession of an imitation firearm and using threatening behaviour.

He was remanded on bail until June 24 by Blackburn magistrates for the preparation of pre-sentence reports. And he was warned he could be sent to prison.

Wendy Chappell, prosecuting, said the incident happened at about 10pm last Saturday, May 29. A group of eight schoolchildren were in the grounds of the castle when they were approached by Bridges and another man.

Mrs Chappell said some of the children recognised Bridges and started to walk away. "All of a sudden he pulled a black handgun from the waistband of his trousers and fired it in the air," said Mrs Chappell. "The gun made a loud bang and there was a flash."

She said Bridges began to hand the gun around to some of the youths but others walked away. He pointed the gun at a female and fired it again and then reloaded.

"One of the youngsters told how he realised it was a gun and started to run away," said Mrs Chappell. "He looked back and saw Bridges pointing the gun towards him and his friend. He pushed his friend over and then dived to the floor himself. They got up and continued running and then heard another loud bang and jumped to the floor again."

Police described the gun as a realistic imitation of an 8mm, self loading, hand gun.

Bridges told officers he had bought the gun for £79 as a birthday present for his dad and had taken it out to test it.

Barry Smith, defending, said his client was anxious that it should be made clear he had never deliberately aimed the gun at any of the teenagers in the Castle grounds.