Armed police stopped a school bus in Ellesmere Port on Thursday morning (March 14) amid fears a teenager had a gun.

Firearms officers were deployed to the scene on Whitby Road during the school run and stopped the vehicle, with the teenage boy found to be in possession of a cap gun.

Police say the youth, who had boarded the bus on Civic Way, was given words of advice and handed over to school staff.

Chief Inspector Lisa Wilson, Head of Ellesmere Port Local Policing Unit, said on Thursday: “I understand the concern this incident is likely to cause, and I would like to reassure all parents and guardians that the safety of the children on the bus remained paramount throughout.

“We treat all reports of this nature seriously and while on this occasion it was only a cap gun, and all the children are safe and well, that may have not been the case, which is why we took the decision to stop the bus using specially trained firearms officers to deal with the incident.

“Additional officers will be present at the school later today to provide reassurance, and I urge anyone with any concerns to speak to an officer.

“I’d also like to remind people that it is an offence to possess an imitation firearm in a public place, and anyone found in possession of one could face a criminal record”.

Police added that all parents and pupils affected by the incident have been spoken to by the school.