AN armed response team was called to a North-East street after reports that a man was threatening to harm himself.

Officers surrounded a home on St Andrew’s Terrace, in Bishop Auckland, where the 41-year-old occupant was heard shouting from a window.

Specially-trained police officers, including members of the force’s dog section, were called to the scene at about 6pm on Thursday.

Witnesses said the man, who seemed distressed, claimed to have a knife and gun, but police did not recover any weapons.

Crowds flocked to the scene to watch the drama unfold as officers spent about four hours talking to the man, who is thought to have mental health issues.

Negotiators were able to talk him down from the window at about 10pm and he was taken to Darlington Memorial Hospital for treatment.

Yesterday, a police spokesman said he had not been hurt during the incident.

Resident Alan Townsend said a group of people from the town had been engrossed by the standoff, with some recording the events on their mobile phones.

Families in St Andrew’s Terrace were told to remain indoors until the situation was resolved.

“Everyone came down from the council estates to see what was happening,” said Mr Townsend.

“I think the police had more trouble keeping them away.

“I was walking home up the street when I saw all the police with dogs and guns.

“There was a rumour that there were shots fired, but there weren’t. I didn’t hear anything.”

Another resident said: “It was quite scary at times because the police were here and there was a massive crowd of people who had come to see what was going on.

“You could hear him shouting down the street and the police were trying to get him to calm down.

“I didn’t see him with a gun or a knife but he was threatening to hurt himself. I hope he’s okay.”

It is the second time armed police have been called to Bishop Auckland in the past three months after a stand-off situation in the town’s Grey Street in July.