Armed police officers were left red-faced when they set up a motorway road block only to find their gun-wielding villains were brandishing harmless toy laser guns.

Rush-hour traffic on the M25 ground to a halt as seven teams of police officers in body armour stormed a coach - and prepared for a showdown.

Only they didn't find the gun-toting villains they were looking for - just a firm of high-spirited Laindon workers on their way home from a day trip.

Police were alerted to the possible drama by passing motorists who had spotted jokers Andrew Rogers, 21, and Dominic Bann, 25, waving what looked like guns at the back of the coach.

They only realised their mistake when they forced the pranksters to hand over their "weapons".

One amused officer even shot the gun down his radio to his headquarters to demonstrate the toy's many sound effects, as his colleagues wiped away tears of laughter.

The coach was carrying 52 workers from Simple Sign Man, in Hemmells, back to Basildon from a day out at Chessington World of Adventures when the drama unfolded.

At first, one car was seen following the coach - within minutes it was surrounded.

The incident closed the M25 at Godstone, Surrey, for 20 minutes

David Reeson, a passenger on the coach, said: "The police were called by someone who must have seen the lads messing around with the toy guns. The driver had to step out, followed by Andy and Dominic. The officers took the guns and couldn't help but laugh.

"The lads had bought the guns at the toy shop at Chessington. We are not talking about spot-on replica guns here - they were like Star Wars laser guns!

"The pair of them will definitely not live this one down for a while!"

Surrey police were unavailable for comment today (Tuesday).

Fun guns - Dominic Bann and Andrew Rogers

Picture: MIKE BELLENIE

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