Police in riot gear detain man after four hour stand-off in Werrington

ARMED police surrounded a house for more than three hours during a siege in a village cul-de-sac.

Officers arrived at Hardewick Close, in Werrington, at around 4.30pm yesterday after reports of a disturbance in one of the detached properties.

They were joined by police negotiators, paramedics, and two doctors.

Residents watched from their bedroom windows as officers in riot gear gathered in the normally quiet residential community.

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Then at around 8pm, a team of police forced their way into the back of the house and detained a man.

He was led into the road, with a blanket covering his head, and escorted into a waiting ambulance. The man, who is believed to be in his 30s, was then driven away.

Neighbours say the drama was the latest in a series of incidents in recent weeks involving the same house. It is understood the property was being rented out at the time.

One resident, who could see the action unfold from her house further down the road, said: "The police were at the patio doors at the back of the house.

"They broke the door down. There were about nine police officers with helmets on and a negotiator at the other side.

"They got him out. He just looked dazed."

The road was blocked off by police cars during the siege. A line of police cars was also parked in a neighbouring road.

Another resident, who also did not want to be named, said: "The police have been around here quite a bit recently.

"They came in the afternoon and there was a heavy police presence from then onwards.

"We saw two police cars and two doctors arrive and the incident escalated from there.

"They had protective visors on and some of them were armed.

"They were trying to get inside the house."

The 69-year-old man added: "It worries us because we don't want this sort of thing happening in our neighbourhood.

"It is a very quiet area, with mostly old people living here.

"I haven't seen anything like this in the 30 years I have been living here."

Police are understood to have been called to the road on several occasions over the last month.

Another neighbour added: "We try not to get involved."

Staffordshire Police last night refused to comment on the stand-off.