A row between horse racing stables led to a gun scare.

Sussex trainers Jim and Tom Best were among five people arrested when police raided Grandstand Stables in Lewes yesterday morning.

It is understood the arrests followed a row between the Bests and a man from the neighbouring training yard run by Suzy Smith.

Police were told threats had been made and a firearm had been seen.

About 15 police officers in seven cars visited Grandstand Stables yesterday at 7.10am. They spent six hours searching the yard for a gun but did not find one.

Jim Best, his brothers Tom and Leon, their father, also called Leon, and another man were arrested on suspicion of making threats.

They were still being questioned last night.

Grandstand Stables are next to Miss Smith’s County Stables at the old Lewes Racecourse site, off Nevill Road.

The Bests have 32 horses in training and despite being a young training partnership have come to some national attention, employing illustrious jockeys Tony McCoy and Frankie Dettori for some bigrace rides.

Miss Smith has 21 horses stabled in converted Tote betting booths in one of the old course buildings.

Insiders at the Old Racecourse said the relationship between the two operations has been strained for some time but boiled over this week.

Jim Best is said to have been involved in a row with a man from the Smith team at Cheltenham racecourse on Thursday, where both yards had runners. The incident was reported to course security.

The British Horseracing Authority said yesterday: “We are monitoring the situation and awaiting the outcome of the police inquiry.”

Jim Best’s wife, Suzy, said yesterday: “It is a bit of a fiasco really. It was a waste of police time. We have never had a gun.”

Miss Smith’s partner, Sergio Gordon-Watson, said: “We have been told by police not to say anything.

“We are just trying to carry on with our work, do the job and train racehorses.”

A spokesman for Sussex Police said: “We received a call at 7.10am from a member of the public asking for officers to attend a neighbour dispute at a property in Lewes.

“Officers subsequently arrested five men. Four of the men were arrested on suspicion of making threats to kill and one man was arrested on suspicion of making racially aggravated threats.

“Following information that there was possibly a firearm involved, a thorough search of the area was undertaken, with nothing of any significance being found.”