A MAN was forced out of his car by three other men and bundled into another vehicle which then drove away.

And just hours later armed police officers swooped on a house in York and arrested four men after forcing their way in.

The drama began late on Monday afternoon when a black Renault Clio pulled up Butcher Terrace, Bishopthorpe Road, followed by a silver car carrying three men.

The three men forced the driver of the Clio to get in the silver car with them and drove off.

Then at 9.15am on Tuesday three men were arrested in Tang Hall Lane in connection with the incident while a fourth man was arrested on suspicion of drug offences in the early hours.

One local resident, who asked not to be named, said she heard the door being smashed and looked into the road to find four police vans parked in Tang Hall Lane. Four more smaller police vehicles were reportedly seen in Tuke Avenue during the raid.

She said: "It didn't really click what it was until we saw the police vans and the armed police. We saw them take two lads away, they were maybe in their 30s.The officer had an evidence bag in his hands, a small one.

"We heard the door go through at about 9.15am, and when we went out at about 9.50am they were taking the big red thing they use to break the door back into the house.”

Police are appealing to anyone who was in Butcher Terrace area at around 5.20pm to 5.35pm on Monday, who witnessed the incident or saw either the black Clio or the silver car driving in the area, to contact them.

Call 101, select option two and ask for the York Serious Crime Team. Alternatively, phone Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.