POLICE sealed off an area of Darlington while they dealt with a domestic incident.

Armed officers were called to the scene of the incident on Corporation Road, off North Road.

It is understood a 20-year-old man from the Northumberland-area locked himself inside a house and threatened to harm himself with a Stanley knife.

Police were called to the scene at 8.30am this morning and brought the stand-off to an end at 11.35am.

The man is believed to have been in the area for four days.

Inspector Graham Milne of Darlington Police said: "There was a concern for his safety. We believed he may harm himself."