TWO heroic ex-Army workmen tackled a man armed with a gun during a terrifying incident in Birkenhead this afternoon.

Chris Barlow, 42, and Scott Morris, 34, jumped from their van and brought the man to the ground then took his gun - described by police as an 'air weapon' - off him.

They held him there until armed police arrived.

Officers handcuffed the man and placed him in the back of a police car.

The cops shook the heroes' hands and told them: "Nice work fellas - but leave it to the professionals next time."

But the two - who both work for Magenta Living - had no qualms whatsoever about jumping in.

Chris told the Globe: "We're ex-Army so we just did what we were trained to do.

"We were coming past Travis Perkins and there was loads of stationary traffic with one car going the opposite way around the roundabout.

"The driver shouted to us we couldn't go down Argyle Street because there was a guy with a gun.

"We stopped the van and got out.

"He was on the pavement when we first saw him and he jilted out onto the road.

"That was when we knew we had to tackle him.

"We knew the gun looked fake so once we restrained him we managed to get it off him.

"The police didn't say much - they just said leave it to the professionals next time fellas."

The handgun was an air weapon not a firearm - but to terrified witnesses the distinction is academic.

Caroline Jackson and Gemma Evans - who both work for the Wirral Globe - were the first to be approached by the man.

Caroline said: "Gemma and I were walking up Argyle Street when this man appeared carrying something metallic in his hand.

"Gemma turned to me and said 'Oh my god - he's got a gun.

"He shouted at us 'I need a f****** copper.'

"He pointed the gun straight at us then stood in the middle of Argyle Street and aimed it at a car coming towards him.

"He brought the gun up to his own head and walked away very slowly.

"He got all the way from Argyle industrial estate to the House of Fraser car park pointing the gun at people.

"It was the most terrifying experience of our lives.

"We're still in shock."

A statement from Merseyside Police said: "At around 12.55pm, a number of calls were received of a man in possession of a firearm on Argyle Street South, Birkenhead.

"Officers attended the location and a 56-year-old man has been detained and will be taken to a police station for questioning.

"An imitation firearm (air weapon) has been recovered for forensic enquiries.

"No members of the public were injured in the incident."