By James Holt
Copyright manchestereveningnews
An unexpected update has been issued after reports of a ‘gunman’ put schools in lockdown and forced shops to close in Wigan last week. Armed police were called to reports of a ‘suspicious’ male with a suspected firearm near Gerard Street in Ashton-in-Makerfield town centre on Wednesday (September 17). Greater Manchester Police confirmed that they received reports at around 3.15pm about a suspected firearm in the area. Local schools, including Byrchall High School, on Warrington Road, were put into lockdown measures as a precaution. Never miss a story with the MEN’s daily Catch Up newsletter – get it in your inbox by signing up here Pictures from the scene showed a number of armed police vehicles lining Gerard Street, with police also in attendance in the car park for the Gerard Centre, where a number of shops reportedly closed. Visible police patrols continued throughout the afternoon following the incident, which was later stood down. Amid the incident, a message was sent out to parents and carers with children at Byrchall High School, which read: “Due to an ongoing incident in Ashton , we have been advised to go into lockdown. “All students that are still in school are safe and inside the building being supervised by staff. Further information will follow in due course. Please note we are unable to man phones at this time. Greater Manchester Police said they were called to reports of a suspected firearm sighting along Gerard Street, in the town centre. Two men were searched but no firearm was found. Join the Manchester Evening News WhatsApp group HERE In an update, it has since been confirmed by local councillor Danny Fletcher that a man came forward to police after ‘realising’ he may have been the suspicious male in question. He said that following a meeting with Greater Manchester Police it was confirmed that the call was made in error and that the suspect was holding ‘something he’d bought from a shop’ that ‘looked a bit odd from a distance’ and that he was ‘mortified’. In a statement online Coun Fletcher said: “Just had a catch up with the local inspector to get the full picture on this week’s incident with a suspected firearm in Ashton centre on Wednesday. “Turns out the man reported as ‘suspicious’ has since come forward after realising it was probably him. It was just something he’d bought from a shop that looked a bit odd from a distance, no viable firearm. He’s genuinely mortified. “GMP responded quickly and thoroughly, and while it didn’t turn out to be the dramatic plot some imagined, it’s reassuring to know the system worked and schools responded accordingly. No Netflix series needed after all.” — Day in day out, our reporters in the Manchester Evening News newsroom bring you remarkable stories from all aspects of Mancunian life. However, with the pace of life these days, the frenetic news agenda and social media algorithms, you might not be getting a chance to read it. That’s why every week our Features and Perspectives editor Rob Williams brings you Unmissable , highlighting the best of what we do – bringing it to you directly from us. Make sure you don’t miss out, and see what else we have to offer, by clicking here and signing up for MEN Daily News. And be sure to join our politics writer Jo Timan every Sunday for his essential commentary on what matters most to you in Greater Manchester each week in our newsletter Due North. You can also sign up for that here. You can also get all your favourite content from the Manchester Evening News on WhatsApp. Click here to see everything we offer, including everything from breaking news to Coronation Street . If you prefer reading our stories on your phone, consider downloading the Manchester Evening News app here, and our news desk will make sure every time an essential story breaks, you’ll be the first to hear about it. And finally, if there is a story you think our journalists should be looking into, we want to hear from you. Email us on newsdesk@men-news.co.uk or give us a ring on 0161 211 2920.
