A family trip to the cinema led to a sports reporter getting caught up in a bowling alley gun drama.

Worcester News journalist Geoff Berkeley, left, was involved in a retail park “lockdown” after reports of a man with a firearm in the area.

Geoff was in the cinema at Nuneaton’s Bermuda Park retail park at the time of the incident in a nearby bowling alley, which saw armed police attend the scene.

David Clarke, 53, has been charged with a string of offences, including false imprisonment and possession of an imitation firearm, in connection with the incident on Sunday.

Geoff told the News: “I went to the Odeon which is next to the bowling alley to watch Blade Runner with my family. We went for the 1.15pm and at about 3pm all the lights went on and the film cut out.

“We were told there was an incident and ushered out and moved into one screen with other people while it was going on. We were in there for about two hours.”

He added: “There were lots of kids and they managed to keep everyone in good spirits. It was only when I got home I realised it was such a big story.”