POLICE early today ended a tense siege after a former councillor doused himself in petrol and threatened to kill himself with a samurai sword.

The drama began at about 1pm on Monday when bailiffs accompanied by police officers tried to repossess the home of Maurice Kellett.

Just after midnight, officers stormed the property after having no communication with Mr Kellett for 40 minutes.

He was found safe and well and was taken to hospital for checks.

Mr Kellett had refused to leave his home in the Lyons area of Hetton-le-Hole, near Sunderland, and barricaded himself in, threatening to use the sword and petrol to harm himself if police tried to force him out.

The 60-year-old's home is to be repossessed after an order was made at Teesside Combined Courts when he ran up £17,500 in legal costs from a long-running land ownership dispute with his neighbour, Shirley Carr.

Earlier last night, a team of 16 officers, armed with batons and CS gas, as well as trained negotiators, tried to persuade Mr Kellett to give himself up, while paramedics and fire crews stood by.

In a bid to force him out of the house, police ordered that his water, gas and electricity be cut off, while a section of the road remained cordoned off.

Emergency crews were becoming increasingly concerned for Mr Kellett's health as he takes medication for diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure and arthritis.

Members of the grandfather and father-of-two's family had been keeping a vigil outside his house since Monday afternoon. His brother, who did not wish to be named, said: "The sword wouldn't cut a slice of bread. I think he bought it in Blackpool or Southport.

"He's very difficult to get on with but he's straight and honest. He's no danger to anyone."

It emerged that Mr Kellett's brother had offered to pay his debts, but that he had refused on moral grounds.

Earlier, Acting Superintendent Jim Sexton, of Northumbria Police, said: "There's some petrol in the house and he has possession of a sword.

"Our main concern is for his safety and welfare."

Mr Sexton had also said that a decision on whether to charge Mr Kellett for any criminal offences would be taken after his release.

Mr Kellett - who has his own website detailing the nine-year land dispute, and claims he is being victimised by the Freemasons - was one of the first in the North-East to be charged under anti-stalking laws, in 1998.

He was subsequently found guilty of harassing Ms Carr.

A Labour member of Hetton Town Council from 1994 to 1998, he left after failing to attend meetings