A MAN has escaped with a caution after entering a popular High Wycombe pub brandishing a loaded nail gun and threatening to use it.

Onlookers described how six police cars and a riot van quickly arrived on Thursday after reports of a man sitting in The Pride waiting for another customer with whom he allegedly had grievances.

Police surrounded the London Road pub, blocking off all exits, shortly after 4.30pm. They later emerged with a man they had arrested.

Inspector Phil Rogers, of Thames Valley Police, told Midweek that officers emptied the pub of customers and managed to defuse the situation, with the man electing to hand over the nail gun.

Chief Supt John Donlon, Chiltern Vale Area Commander, added that police attending the dispute were not armed and the situation was resolved quickly. He confirmed a 35-year-old man was cautioned for affray.

One drinker who saw the incident said a man entered the pub carrying a nail gun and approached the bar for a drink.

Preferred to be known only as Sarah, she said: "Everyone went quiet and he went and sat down. The police then came in a riot van and six police cars.

"The man was looking at the TVs and kept saying he was going to shoot it. We did not know if he meant he was then going to fire the gun at us or the police."

Another drinker called Bryan, added: "We didn't know if he was serious at first as we don't get that kind of thing in here."

Jon Hitton, manager of The Pride, told Midweek he had been shopping in High Wycombe when a member of staff telephoned him and explained what was going on.

He added: "I told him to ring the police and went straight back to the pub. When I got there he was just sat down. He was very calm really. He may have been drunk, I don't know.

"But there was no raised voices or threatening behaviour. He just said he was waiting for someone. I made a point of standing between where the customers were sat and the table where the gentleman was sat."

He added: "This is a popular pub and I don't want customers to suddenly think it's unsafe. It was just one of those incidents that can happen anywhere."

January 21, 2003 10:00