A CHILDREN'S Action Man game sparked a major security alert when a passer-by mistook them for IRA terrorists on manoeuvre.

Armed police, marked vans and Range Rovers surrounded the house where the children - one only six years old - were taking a drink break, while the police helicopter hovered above.

Four of the children - brother and sister Dean and Joanne Caldwell, aged 14 and 12, and brothers Robert and Andrew Caldwell, aged 12 and eight, were visiting their grandparents' home on Ringley Road, Stoneclough, Kearsley. They were playing on nearby spare land with brothers, Joshua, and Stephen Wright aged six and eight, who live next door.

The six were running around using cheap plastic toy guns yesterday afternoon when the passer-by spotted them and raised the alarm.

Unaware of the security scare, the schoolchildren went indoors for a drink, but when Dean emerged to check on his dogs the police swooped.

He was arrested, read his rights and told to drop his "weapon". His mother, Diane Caldwell, had arrived at the house just minutes earlier. She said: "We were stunned. I have never seen so many police officers in one place in my life. "When Dean was told to drop his weapon the sound of plastic hitting the ground was so obvious it was funny.

"Dean was wearing combat gear as well as six-year-old Joshua, and they had all put brown and green paint on their faces. As the eldest, Dean had been entertaining the younger children, it was unfortunate that he was the first out of the house in front of the police. But as soon as they saw the others, they knew a mistake had been made.

"None of the children have ever been in any trouble before. We were all stunned. I will never forget the look of bewilderment on their faces.

"The woman who raised the alarm was actually someone who knew my parents. She came round later to apologise and told us she thought the children were IRA terrorists out on manoeuvres."

Chief Insp Ian Campbell from Bolton Central Police Station, said: "It is important all incidents are treated seriously."

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