A MAN has spoken of his horror after armed police swooped on his house after a mix-up over a cigarette lighter which looked like a gun.

Officers from the armed response unit were called to the house, in Fountain Place, Accrington, after receiving a number of calls from residents who thought they had seen a man carrying a firearm.

But police have admitted Naveed Ahmed was innocent and say no charges were brought, following the incident, at 6.20pm on Sunday.

As the drama unfolded, Mr Ahmed, 22, watched horrified as his house was surrounded by police and the street was sealed off. But his shock turned to disbelief when officers demanded he come out of the house with his hands up.

Mr Ahmed was packing in the house because his family are preparing to move out today. "I was upstairs and one of my sisters shouted that the police were here," he said.

"I went downstairs and stood by my mother at the door and saw a load of officers outside holding guns. All the street was blocked off and there were so many people outside. My mother was terrified and she was trying to calm me down and I was trying to calm her.

"My mother walked across with guns pointing at her and they searched her. Then they asked for me. I said I would walk out calmly but they made me walk out with my hands on my head with guns pointing at me.

"I was terrified. It was the worst experience of my life and I'm still having problems sleeping. I keep having flashbacks."

Mr Ahmed was arrested and questioned by police, but released the next day without charge.

His mother Rifat Ahmed, 44, said: "My four children are really upset and I have had to take Naveed to the doctors. He hasn't slept for two nights."

Inspector Phil Cottam, Accrington's police commander, confirmed armed officers had attended the house and arrested Mr Ahmed.

"We have to act with public safety at the forefront of our minds. We took steps to ensure we had spoken to as many people as we could to substantiate this report before we took any further action."