THE LANDLORD of a Hampshire pub has described his shock after an armed man brandished a handgun in the bar which, moments later, was attacked with a firebomb.

Shaun Brady who runs the Castle Inn in Bitterne Southampton - told the Daily Echo how he fled from the public bar of the pub after the man walked in with the handgun, seconds after a window was smashed.

As he telephoned for the police, a second man ran into the room and threw a firebomb at the bar before he too fled. Staff managed to put out the blaze on the bar but the incident has left both Mr Brady, 44, and his wife Jane 36 shocked and baffled that something like it could happen in a "quiet family pub."

The drama took place around 11.30pm on Friday night (Dec 29) - in the public bar of the pub that stands at the top of Witts Hill.

Stunned customers in the packed public bar could not believe their eyes as the man walked in with the handgun - followed by the firebomb being thrown onto the bar.

Mr Brady said: "Someone just walked into the bar. I was going out of the door. The next thing I knew, a window had got broken."

To his horror, Mr Brady then noticed that the man was brandishing a hand gun. He fled from the public bar and telephoned for the police.

By this time, the first man had fled but a second man ran into the bar and threw a 'firebomb' at the bar before he too fled.

Mr Brady former general secretary of the train drivers union Aslef added: "It was over in a matter of seconds. That sort of thing does not happen here, it just does not. We have not had any problems in here, none whatsoever.

"We could understand if there has been a problem but there has been nothing."

A 17-year-old man is helping police with their enquiries but at least one other man is being sought in connection with the incident.

Officers also want to speak to witnesses who were in the pub on the night. Members of the public not already interviewed by police should call Bitterne CID on 0845 045 45 45.