POLICE today slammed two brothers who caused a major security alert when they walked into a bank to open an account - carrying a gun.

Curtis Troy Ashton and Andre Guy Ashton were swooped on by officers after a sharp-eyed member of the public saw the gun sticking out of one of the men's pockets.

The two who live at The Dene, Beardwood, were in a booth talking to a member of staff at the Yorkshire Bank, Church Street, Blackburn, when they were tackled by police and handcuffed before being taken away for questioning at lunch time yesterday.

The gun was found to be a G-10 ball-bearing pistol - which is not classed as illegal under the firearm's act.

The brothers, one in his late teens and the other in his early 20s, were taken to Blackburn police station, in front of dozens of shoppers and workers.

They were later released when detectives were satisfied there had been no intent to commit an offence.

But today police said the men had been totally irresponsible by entering a bank with the gun.

Inspector Stuart Coates said: "The men were released without charge when we were satisfied there had been no criminal intent - they had gone in to open an account, not take money out. "But why anyone would enter a place like that carrying one of those things is beyond belief.

"They have brought it all on themselves. It is the absolute height of folly to carry anything like that into a bank."

And the inspector warned that, although not illegal to carry a ball-bearing gun, police would not condone anyone seen with one in a busy town centre.

He also praised the member of the public who alerted police after seeing the brothers entering the bank.

Inspector Coates said: "We're absolutely delighted with the information that was passed on to us - the person who called did everything right."

The brothers had owned the gun for two weeks and were on their way to a shop to buy ammunition for it.

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