The gun was held at the head of a takeaway worker and a delivery driver just seconds later as the two men brought terror to an area of Morecambe.

Peter Quirk, 20 of Balmoral Road, Morecambe; and Liam Ashworth, 19, of Melling Court in Morecambe, have now begun jail sentences totalling more than six years.

Sara Dodd, prosecuting, said the offences happened on the evening of September 11 last year.

Jason King was cleaning outside his home in Clarendon Road when he felt his wallet being removed.

He struggled and suddenly a gun was pointed straight at him.

Mr King shouted inside for help and two men made off but Quirk turned and again pointed the gun in his direction.

Minutes later takeaway worker Jin Pei Chen was waiting at a bus stop at the end of his shift when Quirk came up to him and placed a gun to his head.

He shouted for help and a delivery driver, Darren Steele stopped.

Again Quirk held the gun at the head of the driver and Mr Steele pleaded not to be shot, the court heard.

Quirk was demanding cash and the driver handed what was in his cab before the two ran off down Chatsworth Road.

Both were soon arrested.

The gun turned out to be a realistic looking toy, the court heard.

Quirk pleaded guilty to robbery and three firearms offences.

Judge Stuart Baker sentenced him to four and a half years youth custody. He will be transferred to an adult prison when he reaches 21.

Co-defendant Ashworth admitted handling stolen goods and one firearms offence. He was sentenced to 21 months youth custody.

Ashworth's barrister told the court he had tried to stop Quirk but accepted that for a time he had "joined with the idiocy of the co-defendant."

Both had been drinking heavily and had acted out of character, defence counsel said.