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A gunman has taken hostages at a bowling alley in Nuneaton.

Warwickshire Police have confirmed they are dealing with an 'ongoing incident' at Bermuda Park, and called for people to steer clear.

Mehdi Amshar, chief executive of the bowling alley, MFA Bowl, has confirmed two of his staff are being held hostage by a man armed with a gun.

People in the complex, which includes a cinema and bowling alley, have said the area is in lockdown.

West Midlands Ambulance Service has advised it is attending an incident in Nuneaton and no casualties have been reported.

Meanwhile, police have confirmed the incident is not terror related:

One man has tweeted: "Odeon Cinema in Nuneaton, Warwickshire on lockdown man inside has taken hostages. Police have closed the area."

The man is claimed to be brandishing a sawn-off shotgun.

Warwickshire Police tweeted: "Officers are currently dealing with an ongoing incident at Bermuda Park, Nuneaton. Please avoid the area."

Cinemagoer Paul Edgington wrote on Twitter that he was 'stuck' inside the building, responding to police: "I'm stuck in the cinema. Are we safe? How long are we expected to be locked down?"

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One witness told BBC News: "When we were leaving there were police standing around the bowling alley, there were police cars outside the main entrance, with police officers in full body armour."

Another witness, Sarah Fleming, said a police officer told her that an armed man was holding hostages at MFA Bowl.

(Image: @IanBrownuk/Coventry Telegraph)

She told Sky News: "We got notification that someone had a shotgun inside the bowling alley.

"We were inside Frankie and Benny's and obviously we went on lockdown, no one was allowed in or out.

"Then we had notification from the police that he actually had hostages.

"Everyone has been a bit up in the air, don't know what's going on and obviously there is a lot of children in here as well which has been quite an experience for them.

"So everyone is a little bit scared at the minute."

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The restaurant was put on lockdown after a manager went to the nearby cinema, where staff confirmed the situation, she added.

Nuneaton MP Marcus Jones told Sky News: "It is a situation where I think we need to let the police do their job and I think this is an extremely concerning situation.

"But I have every confidence that Warwickshire Police are capable and are able to deal with what looks like a very difficult situation."