Peaceful end to village gun siege

The armed stand-off began just before 1am yesterday when police received a 999 call from a woman in Butterknowle, County Durham, claiming her boyfriend was carrying a pistol, and had threatened her.

She had run from her home in Salterburn Place with her five-year-old son, and phoned the police from a nearby house.

Armed response vehicles were called to the scene and officers blocked off the area, and surrounded the two-storey building, which is in a cul-de-sac near the centre of the village.

A trained police negotiator was called but, despite spotting movement inside the house, failed to make contact.

Throughout the early hours, repeated attempts to speak to anyone inside the house proved fruitless, and a tactical firearms team was called.

At 8am, just as the firearms team was taking up position, a 32-year-old man walked out of the house and gave himself up to police.

The man, from Bishop Auckland, was arrested on suspicion of illegal possession of a firearm and on suspicion of assault. He was taken to Bishop Auckland police station, where he was being held last night.

Throughout the incident no shots were fired, but a police search of the house recovered a revolver. It was still unclear last night if the weapon was a replica or genuine gun.

Villagers were shocked by the news of the siege, and some of those living close to the house were unaware that anything had happened until the stand-off had come to an end.

One neighbour said: "I didn't hear a thing last night. I was asleep, but there can't have been much commotion, because I didn't realise anything was going on until I woke up in the morning and saw police outside."

Chief Superintendent Paul Tinkler, who was in charge of the operation, said: "I'm obviously pleased it ended without incident and with the minimum disruption that was necessary.

"The officers involved acted very professionally, and the operation was carried out in almost textbook fashion."