POLICE who were searching for a man said to be in an "agitated state" followed an armed operation on Teesside have made an arrest.

Residents reported seeing police cars and vans cordon off part of the Longhirst Estate in Coulby Newham.

Officers with guns and wearing body armour attended an address around 5.10pm following an altercation. They were photographed approaching the front door of the property.

"Armed officers in attendance secured the area and made their way into the address as they had concerns for the welfare of a man believed to be still inside," said a spokeswoman for Cleveland Police.

"Officers searched the property and found it to be empty."

One resident said: “I drove past it earlier on my way home. There were two police vans, two police cars and they were all parked at the Coulby Newham side of Gunnergate Lane. They were armed with guns and were stood around.”

Cleveland Police put out an appeal to trace the man who was said to be vulnerable and last seen in “an extremely distressed state”.

They believed him to still be in the Middlesbrough area and members of the public were asked not to approach him "due to his agitated state".

Around 11.30pm Cleveland Police said officers had detained the man they were looking for.

"We have arrested a 24-year-old man on suspicion of making threats to kill. He is now being taken to police custody," said the spokeswoman.