ARMED police descended on a Wirral pub after a man's walking stick was mistaken for a gun.

Merseyside Police were called to the Cock and Donkey public house, on Old Chester Road, Rock Ferry, at around 2.50pm yesterday, Tuesday.

Two separate members of the public reported that a man carrying what they believed to be a firearm had entered the pub.

As a precautionary measure officers were deployed and a containment was put in place around the premises.

A short time later the man, who had been reported as carrying a firearm, was detained and was found to be carrying a folding walking stick.

A spokesman for Merseyside Police said "appropriate procedures" had been followed.

Business owners and nearby residents spoke of their fear after close to 30 police officers surrounded the pub, blocking off the junction of Old Chester Road and Well Lane. 

Sharon Farnworth, owner of Rockchester unisex hair salon, on Well Lane told the Globe: "We were told to stay indoors - even the school was told to keep people in. I would say the police were there for about an hour.

"I have been here for 23 years an I have  never seen anything like that - I would not want to go through that again."

A police spokesman said: “We would always encourage members of the public to report suspicious activity to us. In this case a report was made in good faith and the appropriate procedures were followed.”