ARMED police carrying guns and riot shields surrounded a house as a man inside threatened to harm himself.

Dog units and fire crews joined police in Harmsworth Crescent, Hangleton, yesterday morning in a stand-off which lasted more than six hours.

A police helicopter was also scrambled and hovered overhead as the incident unfolded.

The force was called shortly before 10am to reports from neighbours that there was a “disturbance at the house”.

This triggered a huge response from the force as armed units, riot vans and more flooded into nearby streets.

Residents watched from their windows as they adhered to the Government’s coronavirus order to stay at home.

Several described how they had been told by passing officers to “get back from the windows and shut them” as the incident unfolded.

Others said they were shocked to see police carrying “riot shields and massive guns” in the area.

One resident, who did not wish to be named, said: “There are armed police everywhere, dogs, a helicopter, riot equipment.

“The fire brigade are getting hoses ready and there are several vans.

“It’s frightening.

“My seven-year old is petrified and had a melt down when they saw the gun.

“This is a small, community-minded place.

“It’s hard to believe this is happening.”

Shortly after noon, Sussex Police released a statement on the incident which said they had been “called to a house where a man is threatening to self-harm inside”.

The force said it was not believed anybody else was inside the house with the man and a specialist negotiator was engaging with him.

Half an hour later, an ambulance arrived at the scene.

Throughout this time the specialist negotiator maintained communications with the man inside the house.

But, after several hours of this, contact with him was lost.

A Sussex Police spokesman said: “Shortly before 2pm, following a period of no contact, officers entered the house.

“The man was taken to the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton as a precaution for treatment.

“A 31-year-old man from Hove was arrested on suspicion of criminal damage and remained in custody yesterday afternoon.”

The force also extended their gratitude to residents in the area.

The spokesman “thanked people for their patience and co-operation while the incident was brought to a successful conclusion”.