Armed police were deployed following a report of a firearm having been found in Melksham.
Mums on the school run found the suspected deadly weapon in Halifax Road, Bowerhill, at around 9am this morning (18 January).
A local police officer was first at the scene, about 300 metres from Bowerhill Primary School, and she lightly kicked the icy pistol to investigate it.
“She nudged it over with her foot and it showed a clear part to it as the other side was frosted up. But the other side clearly showed a gold bullet behind the clear bit”, the 999 caller told Wiltshire 999s.
They added: “I didn’t think it was a water gun as it was big and solid.”
Armed police were deployed to recover the item, which turned out not to be a genuine firearm – but either a replica or a toy handgun.
A spokesperson for Wiltshire Police said: “Shortly after 9am we were called to Halifax Road in Melksham after a member of the public reported finding what appeared to be a discarded firearm.
“Officers attended and determined that this was not a real firearm, but rather a fake or toy weapon.”
