COURT: Armed response team called ARMED response teams were drafted in after police received a report of a man with a gun at a house in Darwen.

And when officers went to the door of the house, in Hazel Avenue, they were greeted by two children, aged 12 and 14, who appeared to be extremely frightened.

Carl Wilkinson, 20, of Hazel Avenue, Darwen, was bound over in the sum of £100 to be of good behaviour for 12 months when he appeared before Blackburn magistrates.

Elizabeth Reed, prosecuting, said police went to the house in the early hours of the morning. On speaking to the two children, they discovered that there was a man in the house who had a gun.

"The police had removed the children when Wilkinson came running down the stairs shouting," said Mrs Reed. "Officers asked to see his hands, he refused and at that stage the officers used their CS spray."

The house was searched and an air rifle was recovered from under a bed.

"It seems that Wilkinson had been messing around with this gun and had been trying to scare the children, who rang the police." added Mr Reed.

Johnathon Taylor, defending, said Wilkinson had been out drinking and had no recollection of getting the gun out when he got home.

"He did not intend to frighten anyone and certainly did not intend to use the gun," said Mr Taylor. "It seems the children have panicked."

Ordering the binding over, the chairman said Wilkinson was very lucky not to be facing a much more serious charge.

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