A man has been charged after he was seen carrying a bladed weapon near a primary school in Tyldesley on Friday afternoon.

Anthony Hughes (46), of Darlington Street, Tyldesley, has been charged by local neighbourhood officers with single counts of possession of a bladed article and affray.

He was arrested on Friday after members of the public alerted police that a man was seen carrying a weapon at St Georges Centre C.E. Primary School on Darlington Street. 

Officers rushed to the scene as quickly as possible, just after 3pm.

A picture of a helicopter in the area has been shared on social media, but it has not yet been confirmed if this is connected.

Parents can also be seen in a video which was also shared, where they were trying to intervene before police arrived.

A GMP spokesperson said: “We thank the brave actions of the members of the public who detained him prior to his arrest by police, after reports of a man with a bladed weapon close to the school grounds of a primary school on Darlington Street.”

Mr Hughes has been remanded in custody ahead of an appearance before Wigan and Leigh Magistrates’ Court on Monday 18 July.