UPDATE: A 53-year-old man from Nuneaton has been arrested on suspicion of making threats to kill.

Warwickshire Police Chief Superintendent Alex Franklin-Smith said: "We would like to thank local people for their patience and cooperation while officers dealt with this incident. We are pleased that we were able to bring this incident to a peaceful resolution and that there were no injuries. I would like to reassure the Nuneaton community that the incident is unconnected to any terrorist activity."

A WORCESTER News reporter was caught up in a gunman drama after a retail park was put in lockdown.

Armed police are dealing with an "ongoing incident" at a bowling alley, where a man with a gun has reportedly taken two members of staff hostage.

The public has been warned to stay away from Bermuda Park in the Midlands.

Geoff Berkeley, our sports reporter, was at the cinema at the retail park when the alarm was raised.

He said: "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.

"One of the guys I spoke to saw the gunman.

"He was with his two kids and he was told to get out. 

"He said it was a man in his 40s, and he looked like he was on drugs basically.

"He quickly got out and came to the cinema."

He added: "There was a lot of talk about what was going on.

"We thought it could be a bomb scare but we didn't know.

"Staff obviously knew but didn't want to worry people but it was only when people started to tweet stuff we got information.

"Because we were parked next to the cinema not the bowling alley we were allowed out the emergency exit at about 5pm.

"It was handled really well.

"There wasn't mass panic or anything. The staff did a good job.

"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.

"I was relieved that we got out at the time we did but I'm concerned about the people in the bowling alley. It's a horrible experience for them."

Footage posted on social media appeared to show armed officers at the scene in Nuneaton.

Warwickshire Police tweeted: "Officers are currently dealing with an ongoing incident at Bermuda Park, #Nuneaton. Please avoid the area."

West Midlands Ambulance Service are also in attendance.

One witness told BBC News: "When we were leaving there were police standing around the bowling alley, there were police cars outside the main entrance, with police officers in full body armour."

Another witness, Sarah Fleming, said a police officer told her that an armed man was holding hostages at MFA Bowl.

She told Sky News: "We got notification that someone had a shotgun inside the bowling alley.

"We were inside Frankie and Benny's and obviously we went on lockdown, no one was allowed in or out.

"Then we had notification from the police that he actually had hostages.

"Everyone has been a bit up in the air, don't know what's going on and obviously there is a lot of children in here as well which has been quite an experience for them.

"So everyone is a little bit scared at the minute."

The restaurant was put on lockdown after a manager went to the nearby cinema, where staff confirmed the situation, she added.

Nuneaton MP Marcus Jones told Sky News: "It is a situation where I think we need to let the police do their job and I think this is an extremely concerning situation.

"But I have every confidence that Warwickshire Police are capable and are able to deal with what looks like a very difficult situation."

Carl Lenton was sitting with his family at a table by the window in Frankie and Benny's when the incident began.

He told Sky News: "The manager from Frankie and Benny's came round and said we were in lockdown and we have got to stay in and there had been an incident at the bowling alley, a man over there with a gun.

"There were police cars arriving, there was a helicopter, police dogs, armed police stood all around the bowling alley, around the outside of it.

"It was quite scary at times."