PEOPLE who play around with fake guns are being just plain dumb, say police.

Officers hit out after three incidents - including one in Huddersfield - where armed officers tackled people seen with guns.

In all three cases, since Saturday, the weapons were found to be fake.

On Monday night, Huddersfield railway station was evacuated after a man was seen on a train with a gun.

Police cleared a Newcastle-bound train and a Huddersfield man was arrested for being in possession of a ball-bearing gun.

He was charged with an offence relating to the possession of an imitation firearm and released on bail to appear before Huddersfield Magistrates on October 27.

Three men were arrested in Bradford after pointing a plastic rifle at a house in Fagley on Saturday afternoon. A man was also arrested in Leeds city centre that evening after threatening people in the Corn Exchange with a toy gun.

Supt Gary Hammerton, of the police's Operations Support Division, said: " The consequences of doing this could result in you being confronted by firearms officers.

"Our message to these people is clear - don't wave fake guns around unless you are prepared to look down the barrel of a real one.

"We will arrest people in the possession of imitation weapons and prosecute where appropriate."

A West Yorkshire Police spokeswoman added:

"We receive several reports each week from frightened members of the public believing they have seen people with guns.

"Criminals are increasingly using replica firearms and any sightings - no matter how innocent they appear to be - have to be dealt with as though they present a genuine threat."