POLICE with machine guns stopped motorists at checkpoints across East Lancashire as part of an anti-terrorist exercise.
The road checks took place yesterday following the recent outbreak of bomb alerts across the country.
Sgt Graeme Smith, of police headquarters in Hutton, said the checks involved deployment of armed officers and related to recent security alerts.
He added: "The officers were not seeking any specific information or persons but the exercise was to dissuade terrorist groups in the light of the recent bomb alerts in East Lancashire before the election."
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