AN ARMED Response Unit was called in when it was feared an angry gunman was on the loose in Burnley.

The town's magistrates heard that a witness saw Christopher Marsden, 38, putting a handgun down the back of his trousers and getting involved in a row.

Police were contacted and he was arrested as he came out of The Mechanics with the pistol still tucked in his waistband.

Marsden, of Westgate, Burnley, admitted having a loaded Smith and Weston air pistol in a public place. He was fined £100 and ordered to pay £55 costs and the bench ordered destruction of the weapon.

Andy Robinson, prosecuting, told the court on April 2 a man in the Walkabout pub on Hammerton Street, in Burnley, looked out of the window and saw the defendant holding a black handgun. Marsden tucked it in the back of his pants under his jacket, became aggressive towards a man standing in the street and was seen to get in an argument.

Police were contacted and the defendant was spotted on CCTV going into The Mechanics on Manchester Road.

Mr Robinson said the Armed Response Unit was called and the defendant arrested when he came out about an hour later.

The gun was still in Marsden's trousers and one of the officers spotted it was a gas powered air pistol. Marsden was arrested and cautioned and said :"I have been stupid." He was also allegedly drunk.

The prosecutor said the defendant told police he had bought the pistol from a model shop, to shoot rats in his back yard. He had gone back to his flat and loaded it. Rachel Adamson, defending, said Marsden had been drinking too much that day and not thinking clearly. He accepted he would have put other people in the belief something serious was about to happen.

Marsden had arranged to take his ex-partner's 14-year-old son to a play at The Mechanics but when they met up there was a row because he had the pistol with him. His former girlfriend did not like the fact the defendant was drunk and did not want him taking her son with him. Marsden went to the Mechanics on his own. The defendant walked out after an hour. The pistol had not been powered that day so could not be fired, but Marsden accepted people could not have known that.

Miss Adamson added the defendant, who was on incapacity benefit, bitterly regretted having to appear in court and the concern he caused other people.