Heavily-armed police officers surrounded a Winnipeg home to deal with a gun call yesterday but the occupants claim the report was a hoax created by a "bitter" ex-girlfriend.

One-by-one, the occupants were ordered to exit and then taken into police custody but police and a woman who lives in the home in the 600-block of Beverley Street said no one was armed.

One of the occupants exited holding an infant.

The woman said her son's ex-girlfriend made a bogus 911 call claiming he was armed with a gun.

Police confirmed they received a call from someone claiming a male armed with a gun was making threats.

When officers arrived shortly before 9 a.m., a male who was outside the house ran back inside, a police spokesman said.

No firearm found

After the occupants exited about 45 minutes later, tactical officers swept through the house but didn't find a firearm, police said.

Police cleared the scene within 90 minutes and allowed the occupants to return to the house.

The police spokesman said officers must now determine whether threats were actually made or the complainant was lying. Either outcome may result in charges.

The ordeal unfolded near Wellington School, which has nursery to Grade 6 students. The school locked its exterior doors as a precaution, a Winnipeg School Division spokeswoman said.