POLICE have blasted a hoax caller who gave them false information about a gunman in Stretford.


A police helicopter, armed officers and a dog handler were scrambled to an address on Great Stone Road shortly after midnight on Tuesday, May 13.


The caller called 999 and told the call handler he had heard gun shots, before going on to say that he could see a man with a shot gun inside a house on the road.
 

Firearms officers were deployed and the street was temporarily closed off.
A resident told Messenger that two males were brought out of the house and searched.


However, following this and a search of the area, it became clear that the call was a hoax.


Police are conducting enquiries to locate the caller.


Insp Jon Evans, from Stretford Integrated Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “The actions of this caller were reckless and inappropriate.
 

“Due to the nature of his claims a significant number of valuable resources, including the police helicopter, were deployed to the incident. It diverted them away from members of the public who may have genuinely needed our assistance.
 

“Misusing the 999 system is a criminal offence and we have the power to prosecute people for making hoax calls. Our enquiries are ongoing to locate the caller but if anyone has any information about who may be responsible I would ask that they call police on 101.”
 

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.