It is immaterial whether it was a training exercise or not - safety procedures were breached

TGWU secretary general Bill Morris

The arms were taken on to a British Airways flight to Gatwick on Friday by a company testing security procedures.

The airport has a good reputation for security but has been in a bitter battle with unions over the cutting of 140 security staff.

Mr Morris told BBC Radio 4's Today programme he had previously written to Transport Secretary Stephen Byers about the dangers of bringing in more casual staff.

He said that in the letter he had warned that "reductions in staffing and seeking to replace experienced and trained staff would bring about the incidents repeated twice this week".

"Regrettably it is a case of 'we told you so'.

"We should be increasing security not cutting it.

"It is immaterial whether it was a training exercise or not - safety procedures were breached."

It has absolutely nothing to do with Bill Morris

Manchester Airport

But a Manchester Airport spokeswoman said the breach had "nothing to do with the security issues here".

"It has absolutely nothing to do with Bill Morris," she continued.

"He knows nothing about the situation."

Permission had been given by British Airways with the items declared at check-in as part of the security test.

Securicor ADI is responsible for scanning luggage passing through the airport.

Bill Morris: "We told you so"

It has suspended a member of staff and started an investigation.

A spokesman for Securicor ADI told the Mirror: "At Manchester Airport today training equipment designed to test security procedures was allowed to pass through a hold baggage screening area by a fully trained, experienced, and CTC-cleared security agent.

"The equipment was in the baggage belonging to an aviation security trainer, en route to a Middle East assignment."

He confirmed permission was given by BA and a security guard suspended.

Security screenings

The bag contained bomb-making equipment, guns, imitation explosives, three detonators and a rifle magazine holding five dummy bullets.

The offending articles were hidden in a book, camera and cigarette box and checked in at Terminal Three by British Airway staff.

Having passed through security screenings, the cache was placed in the hold of the Boeing 737 flight BA2903.

A BA spokeswoman told BBC News Online that the cargo was not "smuggled" because BA was fully aware of the items in the bag.

"Obviously safety and security is always top priority at British Airways.

"The issue is the test of security at Manchester Airport - they are responsible for security procedures."

The company who carried out the test, Global Air Training, was unable to comment.

'Sophisticated' smuggling

Jane's Transport aviation security editor Chris Yates said the test result was surprising bearing in mind Manchester's reputation as one of the best UK airports for security.

But he told BBC News 24 that it was less surprising bearing in mind the sophisticated way the weapons were smuggled on board.

"Security equipment at any airport can be overcome by the way that items are concealed in baggage."

He added that plastic explosive or mock-ups could not normally be detected by standard X-ray devices used on UK domestic flights.