ARMED police surrounded a house in York for more than three hours after reports that a woman had a firearm.

Shocked householders watched as officers carrying guns and accompanied by a police dog sealed off the semi-detached house in Danebury Drive, Acomb.

A police spokesman said officers had acted because they had reason to believe a woman was armed with a gun during what he described as a domestic incident.

They arrived at the house just after 8pm and persuaded a woman to come out at 11.30pm. Another woman was in the house throughout the siege, but no-one was injured and no shots were fired.

The road was closed and buses and cars had to be rerouted during the incident.

The police spokesman told the Evening Press today: "We spoke to the woman and she was willing to come out. The house was searched but no weapon was found."

A neighbour, who asked not to be named, said he watched as the drama unfolded.

"Three or four armed coppers went in with an Alsatian dog and a shield. They blocked the road and stopped the traffic for about an hour and a half," he said.

He said one of the women was aged around 16 while the other was slightly older. He said a man aged around 20 had also left the house, although the police could not confirm this.

"I'm used to coppers coming to this street but it's usually because of the kids. It's very unusual for something like this to happen," he said.

"It was like watching an episode of The Bill."

He said the occupants of the house had been searched by police before being taken away in a police van.

He said that he had no idea what had triggered the incident off, and said the house was occupied by a family who kept themselves to themselves.

The incident happened near the junction of Danebury Drive and Ostman Road, only metres away from Carr Junior School.

A woman who lives in Danebury Drive said: "There were armed police all over the street. It was pretty frightening and I haven't a clue what it was about."

A woman has been arrested and taken to York Police Station in connection with the incident.

Updated: 10:41 Wednesday, April 07, 2004