ARMED police surrounded a York animal shelter after workers were confronted by a man with a gun.

The terrified workers managed to escape and raise the alarm after encountering the gunman in the RSPCA shelter in Landing Lane, Clifton, last night.

Police surrounded the complex just before 8pm, and cordoned off the road for what proved to be a three-hour standoff.

Firefighters were also called to the scene amid fears the man may have doused himself and the shelter in inflammable material.

It is believed the man may have been involved in an earlier incident at the animal home. An RSPCA spokesman said today he had had his Jack Russell terrier taken from him amid accusations involving animal cruelty.

Inspector David Porter, of North Yorkshire Police, told the Evening Press last night that following an incident earlier in the day, the police had received reports of a man standing in the home with a firearm. Police officers wearing protective clothing entered the building and a man gave himself up.

Officers then searched the scene and a gun was recovered, but it is not known if it was real or replica.

Inspector Steve Burns, also of North Yorkshire Police, said he thought the man's dog had been taken away from him at the RSPCA home earlier in the day.

Station Officer Stuart Simpson, of North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, said the fire service had been called because the man claimed to have sprayed himself and the centre with accelerants, although it was not known what kind.

An RSPCA spokeswoman told today how a member of staff, who lives on the site, found the building had been broken into after a night out with her boyfriend.

Her boyfriend shouted into the building, and the man walked towards them with a gun, but they had managed to back away and escape.

She said the RSPCA had received allegations of animal cruelty about the man over the weekend.

Yesterday, his Jack Russell terrier was taken from him.

"This kind of incident is really unique," she said. "We do have a member of staff who lives on site for security and for the welfare of the animals.

"The main thing is not that the building was broken into, it is that the member of staff involved is all right."

She said the charity had no plans to step up security.

Householder Sylvia Keenan, who lives opposite the home, said she saw the man standing behind fencing. She said: "I saw a young looking man with his arms up walk over to three armed police men and one with a dog.

"There were lots of police cars and flashing lights, I wondered what on earth was happening."

The road was closed for almost three hours while the building was searched.

Local diversions were in place.

A 46-year-old man from York was arrested after the incident. Today he was still in custody at York Police Station.

Updated: 10:35 Tuesday, March 30, 2004