TWO men and a woman have been arrested after armed police were called to a suspected firearms incident in a North-East street.

Dunelm Walk in Leadgate, near Consett, in County Durham, was cordoned off with police tape while officers surrounded the property.

The alarm was raised at about 10am this morning (Thursday, January 23) and the operation has been ongoing throughout the day.

A spokesman for Durham Constabulary, which is carrying out the investigation, said: “Police were alerted to an incident in Dunelm Walk, Leadgate this morning in which it was suspected a firearm might have been brandished.

“We believe this may be connected to a disturbance in the street in the early hours of Thursday morning and would appeal for anyone who has any information about this to contact police.

“Two men and one woman, all from the Derwentside area have been arrested on suspicion of firearms offences. They are currently in custody at Durham city police station.”

Later in the morning, the B6310 between Shotley Bridge and Medomsley crossroads was also closed.

The police spokesman added: “A car was seized from a location in the Daisy Hill area and will be subjected to a forensic examination.

“At this stage no firearms have been recovered.”

Several police vans and cars were in the area while Police Community Support Officers prevented people from entering the area.

Karl King, 28, who keeps horses in the field near the road that was closed, said: “I asked the police if we had anything to be worried about and they said ‘not up here, you haven’t’.

“It sounded serious. It is a bit scary. It is normally dead quiet around here. You do not normally see police about.”