A GUN shop owner says he fears for his safety after police told him they would no longer respond to his panic alarm.

Cyrus Shack owns the Shooting Shack in Halliwell Road, Halliwell, selling ammunition, shotguns and knives.

He arranged for a security company, Nova, to install a panic alarm in the shop in 2004, on the advice of the police and his insurance company.

When he activates the alarm, next to the counter, the security firm contacts the police.

But now Mr Shack has received a letter telling him the police would not be responding to the alarm from December 9, because they had responded to two false alarms in the past 12 months. Mr Shack says they were legitimate panic calls.

The 50-year-old, from Heaton, said: “I pressed the panic alarm when there was an altercation in the shop in June and again on November 15.

“Most recently, a customer started to get aggressive. He was punching and kicking me and was going to attack me so I had to press the panic alarm.

“The last thing you want is a fight to break out when you are surrounded by weapons so they were not false alarms.”

He added: “I am concerned for my safety. I feel very vulnerable in the shop now.”

A police spokesman said they would not comment on why it had been decided not to respond to Mr Shack’s panic alarm calls, but issued the following statement: “Greater Manchester Police takes the installation of panic alarms very seriously, as they are a tool which protect those who are deemed to be at threat.

“They offer people a direct line to police in the event of an emergency. Whenever such an alarm is activated, an immediate response is of the highest priority to police.

“It would not be appropriate to comment further on individual cases where these alarms are fitted, given the sensitive nature of this tool.

“However, should anyone wish to make a formal complaint, their concerns will be fully investigated.”