Overview

• Greater Manchester Police were called at about 3:15pm to reports of a man with a firearm on Gerard Street in Ashton-in-Makerfield.
• Armed officers and a police helicopter conducted an area search with high-visibility patrols through the afternoon.
• Byrchall High School, Cansfield and St Oswald’s RC Primary initiated lockdown procedures, with messages to parents confirming students were safe and supervised.
• Two men were stopped and searched but no firearm was located, and police said there were no injuries.
• No arrests were made as officers maintained a visible presence into the evening and some nearby shops temporarily closed during the response.