A 46-year-old woman was arrested in the north of Spain after she threatened to shoot a doctor with a pistol - it turned out to be a toy one.

The incident occurred in the medical centre of Camargo-Costa (Cantabria).

She was with her doctor and was arguing with him over una baja médica (sick leave). Suddenly, she whipped out the pistol (see photo) and threatened to shoot him dead.

The arrested woman, who is from the town of Mailaño, also threatened other staff in a similar manner on the way out.

The Guardia Civil were immediately alerted and intercepted the woman on her way home. A quick examination of the ‘weapon’ revealed that it was a toy gun.

Editorial comment: it doesn’t matter if a gun used in a crime is real, a replica or even a toy gun – it still counts as an armed assault in this case.

(News: Maliaño/Camargo, Cantabria)