A man carrying a loaded gun was arrested in the early hours of yesterday morning after a violent struggle with a Police officer.

At 3.20 a.m, two men on a motorbike were seen on CCTV cameras acting suspiciously in the area of Hamilton?s Court Street and Dundonald Street ? with two Police officers nearby dispatched to investigate. The bike was followed for some distance along Elliot Street and Princess Street, with the two men refusing to stop despite repeated requests from Police. When they eventually complied back on Dundonald Street, the bike?s engine was left running. When one officer tried to approach them from the front, the driver suddenly drove towards him, only to be grabbed and flung to the ground.

While the two men fought it out on the ground, a loaded gun dropped out of the man?s pocket but was quickly taken out of harm?s way.

While the bike?s passenger escaped, the 20-year old driver from Devonshire was eventually restrained and arrested ? while a further body search at Hamilton Police Station uncovered a number of drug twists.

The man is currently in Police custody while officers from the Serious Crime Unit conduct further enquiries.