ARMED police descended on Accrington on Tuesday but concerned residents were urged not to panic.
For the officers were taking part in a training exercise in the Eagle Street and Cannon Street area.
A police helicopter was also deployed to take part in the training around midday.
It is standard practice for officers to carry out training in public and exercises are held across the county on a regular basis.
Sergeant Chris Driver from Accrington said: "From time to time in arms training, officers take part in overt exercises in various towns and this time it happened to be in Accrington.
"It's just a case of putting into practice what is being taught in the classroom."
