A 50-YEAR-OLD man has been remanded in custody on gun charges after dramatic town centre scenes involving armed police last week.

Michael Bullock of Commercial Street, Cinderford, appeared before Cheltenham magistrates last Thursday (June 28) facing five offences relating to an incident in Cinderford during the afternoon rush hour.

He has been charged with possessing a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence, possessing a prohibited weapon, and possessing a firearm when prohibited for five years.

He is also accused of possessing an air weapon in a public place and discharging a firearm within 50 feet of the highway causing damage.

Shoppers and passers by had looked on as armed police responded to reports of a man brandishing a rifle in Commercial Street around 5.45pm on Tuesday, June 26.

Officers later made an arrest and seized a suspected air rifle.

A Gloucestershire Police spokesperson said the alarm was raised when witnesses reported seeing a man outside a shop premises on Commercial Street with a gun.

Pictures were later posted on social media of armed police pointing rifles and tasers.