AIR pistol enthusiasts using plant pots on their balcony for target practice sparked a major police operation in Bournemouth.
Armed and uniformed officers were sent to Christchurch Road and the surrounding area sealed off following reports that shots were being fired from the roof of a nearby flat block.
Details of the lunchtime incident last Sunday have just been released by Dorset Police.
An armed response team was scrambled at 1.36pm after police received a call saying a man was firing shots from the roof of a building.
Christchurch Road, Knyveton Road and Annerley Road were closed off for just over an hour while officers searched the area for clues and spoke to local residents.
A police spokesman said that when police knocked on one door, two men produced air weapons.
He said: "It turned out that they had been firing at targets on plant pots on their balcony.
"When we receive reports of shots being fired we have to take it seriously as lives could be in danger.
"About 16 officers were sent to the scene. It turned out to be a false alarm."
The men, aged 32 and 34, were given "words of advice" but no arrests were made and the roads were re-opened.
A local resident said: "Three adjoining flat blocks were cordoned off by police and families were unable to get into their properties.
"There were lots of armed officers involved. I was out at the time.
"When I returned home all the neighbours were talking about what had happened. It created quite a stir on a Sunday lunchtime."
