ARMED police could be patrolling Bolton train station as part of the government’s latest strategy in the fight against terrorism.

British Transport Police officers are to be given the capability to carry guns and could be deployed at any station in the country “from time to time”.

Transport secretary Philip Hammond said the move was intended to give transport police the option to use guns when necessary.

He said: “The government has been considering the resilience of the overall police armed capability and has concluded it would be beneficial to enhance this by providing the BTP with an armed capability of its own.

“The timing of this is not as a result of any specific threat — it is a sensible and pragmatic approach to ensuring our police forces have the right resources to be able to respond as and when needed to protect the public.”

He added the extra capability would relieve pressure on other police forces, who currently provide armed officers to support the British Transport Police when needed.

Greater Manchester Police chiefs are considering a proposal which would see its firearms unit replaced with a regional North West firearms unit, merging with forces in Lancashire, Merseyside, Cheshire, Cumbria and North Wales.

Bolton West MP Julie Hilling said it was sensible to give transport police the option to use guns but added she would not want to see them regularly.

She said: “Some people may say it’s reassuring to see armed police at the station, but I think it’s the opposite.

“I think if you see armed police in this country it’s worrying.”

Advice on the British Transport Police website says: “No-one should be alarmed by this as there is no specific intelligence about a terrorist attack on the rail network.

“However, people should be aware the terrorist threat is real and ever present and the current UK threat level remains severe.”