ARMED police will batter down doors on the Two Gates estate in Darwen - but only as part of a training exercise.

Sessions which will also involve controlled explosions, will run from today to Friday this week.

Blackburn Police and Housing association Twin Valley Homes, which owns the estate, was last week criticised by residents who claimed they were not informed about a practice-run in which officers were seen battering down doors.

The police training team is dropping letters through the doors of nearby residents to inform them of the training session due to take place to avoid further alarm.