A GUN scare was triggered when a man was seen with a handgun on a train bound for York, British Transport Police said today.

A woman who spotted the firearm fled the train in fear before it reached her stop and reported the sighting.

Officers were told that the man - dressed all in black - had been seen loading the weapon and they boarded the Harrogate-York train when it pulled into the city.

When the culprit was detained it was discovered that he was a 15-year-old carrying an air pistol that had been bought for him the day before.

Inspector Graham Breeze, of British Transport Police, warned today that the youth was not only breaking the law by carrying the gun but had also put his own safety at risk.

Sergeant Mick Barber, who was on duty at the time, said the woman who reported the incident was genuinely fearful when she contacted police.

"She was so scared and intimidated by what she saw that she got off the train before it reached her station," said Sgt Barber.

"The report we got was that a man had been seen loading and unloading a weapon on the train."

Officers searched the train at York station and found the youth, who is from the city, with the gun in a plastic bag.

Insp Breeze this week officially reprimanded the youth for possession of an air pistol in a public place.

He said: "The stupidity of his actions was explained to him - such irresponsible behaviour with a firearm, be it an imitation or not, could have put his own safety at risk."

Picture - PISTOL: Sgt Mick Barber with the air pistol which was confiscated from a youth on the Harrogate to York train

Picture: David Harrison