Motorists shocked when they were confronted by police armed with semi-automatic guns were told: don't worry, it's only an exercise.

Roadblock: Armed police in body armour block part of the road between Naburn and Stillingfleet during a training exercise. Picture: Garry Atkinson

Armed North Yorkshire officers were patrolling on minor roads south of York yesterday.

Startled drivers who came across a road block on the B1222 between Stillingfleet and Naburn were halted by police wearing body armour and carrying semi-automatic weapons, before being waved on.

One motorist said: "They had guns slung around their necks and when they turned to me the nozzles pointed my way. It was quite disconcerting.

"They ordered me to stop, checked my number plate then let me go on. When I asked what was happening, they just said, 'Don't worry sir, it's just a training exercise.'

"I wonder how a little old lady would react when confronted by the same situation."

A spokesman for the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents said: "We don't know exactly what happened in these circumstances but generally we hope that when the police stop people like that they do bear in mind the problems it could cause in terms of public safety.

"It needs to be done with the minimum distraction to motorists. Having said that, drivers should always be ready to stop if something unexpected happens."

Selby MP John Grogan said: "The last thing you would expect in a country lane near Stillingfleet is to turn a corner and be faced with an armed police roadblock, and this could alarm someone with a nervous disposition.

"I recognise that the police, given the threats we face in society today, do train in this way, but I hope they will bear in mind the sensitivities of ordinary law-abiding motorists in the future."

Police spokesman Tony Lidgate confirmed that an armed response training exercise had taken place.

He said: "Firearms officers have to train, obviously. We can't always teach in a classroom what to do in a life or death situation. It needs practical training. If members of the public are alarmed then we apologise to them and explain what we are doing.

"But we have to do it. One day, it might save somebody's life."

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