Handgun and replica bomb fail to show up on airport security

The state of British airport security is under the spotlight again after staff at Manchester Airport missed a fake bomb and gun being smuggled through security checks by government inspectors.

The state of British airport security is under the spotlight again after staff at Manchester Airport missed a fake bomb and gun being smuggled through security checks by government inspectors.

Undercover officials managed to breach security at the airport - Britain's third busiest - as part of a series of tests and inspections aimed at maintaining high standards.

A temporary security guard who searcged the Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions representative is alleged to have failed to find a handgun tucked into the rear of his trouser waistband.

The guard, alerted when the detector was activated, is believed to have been sacked after overlooking the weapon on a second search ordered by a security boss.

Meanwhile a replica bomb, also being carried by a DETR inspector, passed through one of Manchester airport's X-ray machines without showing up.

The latest security scare follows earlier revelations that Stansted Airport, in Essex, also fell foul of the department inspection allowing both a fake bomb and gun to be smuggled through.

A DETR spokesman confirmed: "The Government takes airplane security extremely seriously. "We conduct a programmes of inspections and test at all UK airports to ensure security procedures are carried out correctly and high standards are maintained. Where deficiencies are found during inspections and tests, these are immediately brought to the attention of airport operators.

He said they would be expected to thake the necessary remedial action immediately

A spokesman for Manchester Airport, which deals with some 19 million passengers each year, said: "Security remains a top priority. The routine DETR inspection programme identified a test failure in security.

"A thorough investigation was immediately carried out by the airport and the situation was quickly resolved to the DETR and airport satisfaction.