Bolton: Armed police response after gunshots heard in

Andrea Marland was out with her boyfriend walking his dog along the heavily wooded embankment on Sunday, June 26 when she says the the incident occurred at around 10am.

The 53-year-old, who lives in Halton Street, The Haulgh, called police after what she said was a loud bang from the other side of the river.

Andrea, a horse-riding instructor, claims she saw two men with guns who told her to move.

She says she alerted police and that a helicopter was scrambled and armed response units sent to the scene.

Andrea explained: “My boyfriend David and I were down there walking with his dog.

“I heard a shot. I screamed, and a few seconds later another shot.

“Two men came to the top of the banking on the other side saying we shouldn’t be there because it’s private land.”

Andrea says she told the men they did not have permission to shoot there and that she was “terrified”.

A Greater Manchester Police spokesman said: “A report came in that two men were in possession of firearms in a field. “Firearm officers attended and the firearms were checked and found to be fully licensed and legal and were being fired on private land.

“No firearms offences have been found.”

He added: “The crime that remains open is public order as the informant reported that two men shouted at her. This is what remains on-going.”

However, Andrea’s mum, Pauline, says she is not happy with the police’s response.

Paulise has also alleged her daughter is still waiting to give her statement on the events.

She said: “We’ve heard nothing since last Sunday (June 26). We rang the police on Monday, and they said they’d send a message to someone.

“On Tuesday we went down to the police station - nothing happened. And Wednesday we went down again, and they said that it was all legal.”

Pauline has stated they are “furious”.

She added: “They’ve not even asked for a statement or for her side at all. She’s not had chance to give her version. It’s wrong. It’s absolutely disgusting.”