Two men in their 60s arrested by armed police have been released from custody.
The pair were at the centre of dramatic scenes on Sunday morning when officers swooped on them in Kirkby.
They have since been questioned on suspicion of possession of a firearm and released under investigation.
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Merseyside Police dispatched an armed team to Shevington's Lane at around 9.20am following reports of suspicious activity.
A witness told the ECHO the two men were told to "lie down" by police after a carrier bag was "thrown" behind a telephone box.
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Video footage from the area showed an officer recovering a carrier bag at the scene.
A police spokesman said the item inside would undergo forensic testing.
They added that inquiries into the incident were ongoing.
