Published at 09:13, Monday, 10 September 2012

Armed police were deployed following fears that three men in a car may have had a handgun.

The officers were sent out after a Vauxhall Corsa failed to stop for patrols in Egremont.

Police said the information about the gun was unconfirmed and searches found no weapons.

Officers had initially been called at about 2.40am on Saturday after a disturbance involving an “altercation” between people in the Market Square and occupants of the Corsa.

A force spokeswoman said: “When police arrived at the scene the Corsa failed to stop and left the scene.”

The car was found a short while later in Parkside Road in Cleator Moor. Police said it had crashed.

Three men from the Merseyside area were arrested on suspicion of offences including public disorder, failing to stop and drink-driving.

They were bailed pending further investigations.

Firefighters from Frizington and Whitehaven, and paramedics were called to the crash.

Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk