ARMED officers swooped on Chester-le-Street on Saturday morning, shutting the town’s major road and urging people to avoid the area.

Durham Constabulary confirmed officers carried out a search warrant at a property in the town. The scene was stood down earlier this morning.

Officers blocked off Front Street while responding to the incident, with several police cars spotted in the surrounding area.

A police helicopter was also deployed above the town.

Read more: Armed police swoop on Chester-le-Street and close Front Street

Front Street was closed to all vehicles and pedestrians both ways between Cooperative Street and Station Road. It has now reopened. 

A spokeswoman for Durham Constabulary said: “Officers carried out a search warrant at a property in Chester-le-Street this morning.

“The scene has now been stood down.”

Keep up to date with all the latest news on our website, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

You can also follow our dedicated County Durham Facebook page for all the latest in the area by clicking here.

For all the top news updates from right across the region straight to your inbox, sign up to our newsletter here.

Have you got a story for us? Contact our newsdesk on newsdesk@nne.co.uk or contact 01325 505054