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Widespread panic was sparked after a gunman with a sawn-off shotgun took two hostages at the MFA Bowl in the Bermuda Park leisure park, a spot popular with families, in Nuneaton on Sunday afternoon. Armed police stormed the venue to resuce to the two male hostages in the early evening. A series of 'flash bangs' went off at the leisure park at around 6.35pm and Sky News had footage of what appeared to be a police drone in the sky and reports of a group of police officers running to the right of the alley when the loud bangs went off. Bermuda Park leisure park is a popular local attraction with a number of leisure faciilities that include a number of pubs and restaurtants, as well as the bowling alley, and is popular with families, many with young children.

TWITTER•IG Bermuda Park in Nuneaton on lockdown as gunman takes hostages at bowling alley

The incident caused panic amongst those enjoying a Sunday afternoon which marked the beginning of half-term for school children. At the time witnesses described the man as being aged in his mid-40s, with a beard and armed with a sawn-off shotgun. The two hostages have been assessed but were uninjured and have been discharged, according to police. A suspect has also been arrested. Witness Alex Holland told Sky News: “We were having a game of bowls and a guy ran across our lane shouting to get out. I turned around and there was this white guy in his 40s, a beard, a weird looking guy. He’s got a gun above his head saying: ‘Game over, game over…’ Everyone was screaming and shouting and panicking, trying to get out. I didn’t know what to make of it. I just ran as quick as I could and got out of there.” There was heavy police presence with a least 30 officers present, including armed officers, at the scene and a dog unit was also believed to be in attendance. it is unclear who the gunman is but there is speculation that the man is either a former employee or the boyfriend or husband of an employee, but this has not been confirmed by authorities. Eye-witness Lawrence Hallett, who was in the bowling alley when the gunman appeared, told Sky News that the suspect was a male, around 40 years old and unshaven.

Man with sawn-off shotgun takes hostages at Nuneaton bowling alley Sun, October 22, 2017 Bermuda Park in Nuneaton is on lockdown after a gunman with a sawn-off shotgun took hostages at a bowling alley. Play slideshow Google Maps•Twitter 1 of 9 Bermuda Park in Nuneaton on lockdown as gunman takes hostages at bowling alley

Mr Hallett descrbed him as being "rough around the edges" with an "aggressive demeanour" who was "constantly shouting and swearing". He added that the children he was with for a party were upset by the events. He said: "People just tore out of there." One man has tweeted: "Odeon Cinema in Nuneaton, Warwickshire on lockdown man inside has taken hostages. Police have closed the area." All the roads into Bermuda Park were cordoned off by officers, according to reports on Twitter. At the time the chief executive of MFA Bowl in Nuneaton Mehdi Afshar said two members of staff had been unaccounted for.

Twitter/DarrenOatway A gunman is said to have taken hostages at Bermuda Park in Nuneaton

The neighbouring soft play centre was also on lockdown as well. Another eye-witness Geoff Barkeley was at the cinema watching Blade Runner along with his family when the lights went out and staff moved the audience to another screen. Another witness said on Twitter that both a police helicopter and air ambulance were circling in the air above the venue. Visitor Lloyd Weightman, who was with his two sons, told the Coventry Telegraph he saw a man with a shotgun at the bowling alley, who told him to "get the f*** out". Commercial lawyer Ian Brown tweeted: “Odeon Cinema in Nuneaton, Warwickshire on lockdown man inside has taken hostages. Police have closed the area.” One witness to events wrote on Twitter: “I can see the police helicopter, yeah. I think they've locked people in the Odeon cinema I was on about going there today to watch the new Snowman thriller film! Heard guys taken hostages in the bowling place and police have blocked all roads from Bedworth into Nuneaton.”

Gary Cockerill tweeted: "Apparently man armed with sawn off taken hostages in bowling alley". Replying to Warwickshire Police's post about the "ongoing incident" on Twitter, Paul Edgington said: "I'm stuck in the cinema. Are we safe? How long are we expected to be locked down?" Police later took away an abandoned car near the incident that witnesses said could be connected to the hostage incident. Witness Sarah Fleming 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.

Twitter/Warkwickshire Police Warwickshire Police's Twitter message

"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. There are a lot of children here." Schoolboy Riley Calvert, aged 13, was enjoying a family day out at the bowling alley when an attendant rushed over and told him they needed to leave. He told MailOnline: “I was on my second game and the man came over and said we had to go. “I thought our playing time was up until I looked at the doors and saw people running away, so I just got my mum's handbag and we all ran to the door.” The teen said he was grateful for the alley attendant getting him and his family away to safety.

twitter/DarrenOatway Police have locked down Bermuda Park leisure complex in Nuneaton

He added: "I just want that man to get a medal. I hope to God every one is safe. I'm praying everyone is okay.” Another Twitter user wrote: “A man is holding people hostage with a gun in the bowling alley. Was just about to go for a carvery there and all the roads are closed off and police are everywhere and the whole of Bermuda park is shut so no one can get in or out.” Local MP Marcus Jones told Sky News: “I myself have not spent a great deal of time calling senior officers from Warwickshire Police. “Looking at the incident on the screen, it’s a situation where we need to let the police do their job.

“It is an extremely worrying situation but I have every confidence that Warwickshire Police are capable of dealing with what looks like a very difficult situation.” Warwickshire Police have confirmed in a tweet that the incident is “unconnected to any terrorist activity”. 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.” An update from the West Midlands Ambulance Service said that they had a "number of resources" at the scene and were called at 3.40pm. They said that they had two paramedic officers at the scene, an emergency planning officer and a Hazardous Area Response Unit at the scene.

Sky News Witnesses Alex Mulholland (R) and Liam Roberts (L)

Authorities confirmed that the two male hostages have been released and one suspect was treated at the scene and then taken to hospital. West Midlands Ambulance Service confirmed that the “situation is now resolved. One suspect treated at scene and taken to hospital by ambulance.” A statement said: “At 2.30pm this afternoon (Sunday October 22) Warwickshire Police received reports of a man with a firearm in Nuneaton. “Specialist firearms officers and police negotiators, along with fire, ambulance and police air services, attended the location at the bowling alley in St David's Way, Bermuda Park. A man has been arrested and is in police custody. “Members of public at the bowling alley and neighbouring properties were evacuated to safety and nobody was injured during the incident.”