GAZETTE & HERALD: Police have blasted a group of students who sparked alarm at a newsagent store by trying to stage a mock hold-up.

The students were apprehended by police on Tuesday evening in London Road, where one of them was found to be brandishing a toy gun.

When questioned, the group claimed they were filming a mock incident to enter a competition to win a Nokia mobile phone.

Two days earlier they had entered Silver Screen Stores, in Newcroft Road, Calne, and asked store assistant Kathy Haines, if they could film the fake hold-up.

She refused and called manager, Tommy McCombe, who alerted the police, concerned that they were planning something more sinister.

Mrs Haines said: "There was a young man who came in with a blonde girl and this chap came in after as well.

"The first man said he wanted to do a 15-second video of him holding us up and pretending to rob us.

"I said I would phone my boss, but that I doubted he would agree.

"I said to them 'you know you're on CCTV camera' and he asked if he could have some footage of that.

"I said why not go to another shop or a garage and they said they certainly didn't want to do that."

When approached by police officers on Tuesday evening, the group confirmed they were the people involved, but seemed unaware that they had sparked a panic.

A police spokesperson said: "The firearms issue is a very sensitive one and this type of behaviour is very irresponsible in today's world."

PC Alfred Amsell, of Calne Police, who dealt with the incident, said: "They were doing a 15-second mock hold-up for a Nokia competition.

"When we explained they could have been in trouble they realised their errors."

He added: "The boy should have gone in saying, this is my number and I'd like to speak to your boss and I will come back another time.

"The shop did the right thing and got in contact with us."

Mr McCombe said his staff acted correctly.

"I would have thought you would need to have risk assessment sheets and to inform the police about something like this," he said.

"You don't know how people will react.

"My staff reacted well and they were very cool and casual."