ARMED police have been praised for their bravery after using CS gas to overpower a gunman who had earlier fired several shots at officers.

The suspect's handgun was later found to be an imitation but police - who did not fire a single shot - had to treat it real.

The man shot at two unarmed police constables as they approached him in a deserted car park near the Redheugh Bridge, in Newcastle, shortly after midnight on Tuesday.

Garage owner Martin Sanderson said the gunman held up the Fina service station, in Scotswood Road, moments later.

Detective Chief Inspector Gary Calvert said last night: "The two unarmed officers initially called to the scene dealt with the incident very well, quite correctly pulling away from the scene and reporting what they had seen and keeping armed response vehicles fully updated.

"Quite clearly he was a very dangerous man. The gun has been recovered and it is a blank-firing weapon.

"But at that stage we had to assume that the weapon was a real firearm. The officers acted bravely."

The fugitive was later overpowered on Scotswood Road by officers using CS spray.

A man was last night helping police with their inquiries.