A MAN has been cautioned after armed police were called to a house.

Police were seen attempting to batter the door down of the residential home on Birchington Avenue, South Shields, at about 8.15pm when shouts could be heard from the street.

An eyewitness told The Northern Echo: “We were watching TV when we heard a man shouting outside.

“We looked out the window to see three police 4x4s outside of our house with armed officers shielding themselves behind the vehicle doors.

“They were holding machine guns pointing at a nearby flat and shouted to us to get away from the window.”

The eyewitnesses watched on as officers took cover behind vehicle doors and a resident’s garden wall.

The were seen to carry equipment to barge down a door and were heard beating it against the house.

It is understood officers entered a property, while a van and police vehicle blocked both entrances to the street - turning around vehicles and pedestrians.

Armed officers left the street at around 9pm but one police vehicle remains.

An officer said told one resident it was part of an ongoing investigation and gave assurances that the area was safe.

However, on Friday a spokesman for Northumbria Police said: "At 7.23pm on Thursday police received a report of concern for the welfare of a man in South Shields. 

"Enquiries were carried out into the report and officers attended an address on Birchington Avenue. 

"A 51-year-old man has been cautioned for malicious communications."