A man was arrested this afternoon after an armed siege in Bury St Edmunds.

The dramatic scene unfolded after police received a call claiming that a man had been seen driving a car in Cumberland Avenue holding what appeared to be a handgun and it had been fired.

Armed police then surrounded a property in Oakes Road and a section of the road was closed off while officers dealt with the incident.

The call came in at 1.30pm and by 4pm a man had been removed from the property.

Crowds had looked on as armed police pointed guns towards a property. At one point four or five armed police with a shield were seen to head towards a property, returning a while later. There was also a police dog.

The incident follows an alleged robbery in Oakes Road - which residents have said is normally a quiet area - on Tuesday night.

Retired photographer Tom Murray, of Oakes Road, said: 'It's normally a very quiet area. Two things in one week. There was great concern when they shut the street lights off at night there could be problems and some people have had a few trips and falls.'

Jackie Moore, 51, also of Oakes Road, said: 'It is worrying. I have only lived up here a little while with mum, but mum has lived up here 40 years.'

After the man was removed from the property officers then conducted a search.

A spokeswoman for Suffolk Police confirmed a man had been arrested, but the full details were not available at the time.