A CUSTOMER who witnessed a tense stand-off as a man brandished a gun in a pub has spoken of her relief that no one was hurt.

Six people were arrested after the incident in The Claremont Arms in Halliwell Road, Halliwell, on Monday night.

The incident happened after the bar worker asked the group, who were playing on a fruit machine, to buy a drink.

They refused and one of the men revealed what is thought to have been a gun. They then walked off.

The woman, who asked not to be named, said: “They were standing in the far corner of the pub at a fruit machine, all huddled together, when the bar worker said they had to get a drink, and that they couldn’t just stand there using the machines.

“They just ignored the bar worker and carried on. The bar worker then asked again and they got quite hostile.

"Someone has then gone over and stood at the end of the bar to protect this worker, because they were worried about them getting hurt.

“These guys have then walked towards him and pulled out a gun.

“I saw the gun and I just froze. I don’t really remember much after that.

“I'm just relieved it passed off without anybody getting hurt.”

Police arrested six males, aged between 15 and 26, on suspicion of firearms offences.

Five were bailed and a sixth is still in police custody, a Greater Manchester Police spokesman said last night.

Police said the weapon had been seized and is being forensically tested.

Any witnesses are asked to call police on 0161 8565761.