Armed police swoop on cops and robbers fancy dress party after passer-by thought office was under siege

Armed police raced to the scene after a 999 caller reported two armed men, dressed in dark clothes, entering an office.

But, after a textbook cautious approach they discovered a cops and robbers fancy dress party.

Bosses at the Converso Contact Centre in Southend had staged the party as a team-building event.

The passer-by had mistaken toy guns for the real thing.

Essex police condemned the incident as 'potentially a very dangerous situation'.

Detective Chief Inspector Tim Raymond said: 'The two men involved clearly did not think about the implications of their actions.

'This was potentially a very dangerous situation and, as such, armed officers were deployed.

'It was quickly established the guns were imitations, however, the outcome could have been very different.'

Bosses at the Converso Contact Centre, in Southend, Essex, have apologised for staff having fake guns and have promised not to encourage them to dress up again.

Jane Moores, a spokeswoman for the company, said: 'The company held, as part of its regular, team-building activities, a cops and robbers-themed fancy dress event.

'We apologise unreservedly for any unnecessary distress that this incident may have caused to the public.

'Incentive and team-building days are held regularly at Converso and are very popular.

'They are aimed at helping motivate staff.

'When a number of staff arrived at the office in their costumes they were mistaken by a member of the public for real criminals.

'We have obviously learned from this experiences and have taken steps to ensure this does not happen again.'

In January this year Lawrence Corcoran, 33, was arrested at gunpoint in Southend dressed as Rambo with a toy rifle.

He was ordered to do 80 hours' unpaid work and pay £60 costs at Southend Magistrates' Court after he admitted a charge of disorderly behaviour because he had pointed the gun at cars.