A MAN suspected of carrying a gun was arrested at a pub on Boxing Day.

The incident occurred at the Church Hotel in Church Road, Kearsley, just after midnight when police were called to reports of a disturbance at the pub.

Officers went to the scene and arrested a 27-year-old man on suspicion of possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear. He has since been released under investigation.

A spokesman for Greater Manchester Police said it did not appear that any shots had been fired during the incident. Workers at the pub confirmed nobody was injured.

Some residents awoke at about 12.30am to see people outside the pub trying to get in the door and police officers arriving.

One person in Church Road, who did not wish to be named, said nobody had any idea that there was a gun involved.

She said: “I was watching from outside. We did hear a lot of strange banging noises and a lot of shouting.

“The doors of the pub were closed and someone was trying to get in through the front door. There were quite a few cars parked on the road.

“It just looked awful. It definitely shocked a lot of us living nearby. I am glad that nobody was hurt.”

One resident, who also did not wish to be named, said she got up at around 7am and saw the police tape up at the entrance to the pub.

She said: “I have never seen anything like this around here, especially around Christmas.

“There were still quite a few people there and I had no idea what had happened.”

When she learned that the incident involved a firearm she said: “I have never heard of anything like that happening here.”

The area where the incident occurred is situated close to St John’s Primary School and St Gregory’s Primary School.

A police car was seen parked in Lord Street but the cordon that had been set up after the incident had been taken down.

Anybody with information should contact police on 101 quoting incident number 47 of December 26 or the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.