Three men have been arrested after reports of a gang armed with a machete in a town centre sparked panic and caused shops to go into lockdown.

One suspect was chased by officers through Wigan before being detained with the aid of the public at a bus station on suspicion of being in possession of a bladed article.

Two other men believed to be linked to the incident on Thursday afternoon were arrested nearby on Frog Lane on suspicion of being in possession of an offensive weapon.

Two knives were recovered and the three suspects are being held in custody.

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Inspector Sam Davies said: “This was a really frightening incident for the public, with local shops making the decision to lockdown for their safety.

“Thankfully, no members of the public were injured, and I am pleased to say all of our officers are safe.

“They unhesitatingly put themselves in harm’s way, and through their brave actions, all of the individuals we believe to have been involved were quickly arrested.”

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He added: “I would also like to extend my thanks to a member of the public who sought to assist one officer in detaining a suspect at Wigan bus station.

“If they are reading this I would urge them to make contact so I could thank them in person for their actions.

“Additional officers remain in the area to provide reassurance to the public. If you have any concerns or questions, please do not hesitate to speak to them, they are there to help you.”

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