POLICE investigating an incident at a house in York stormed the property after a two-hour stand-off.

Officers were called to the property in Thornfield Avenue, off Malton Road, early yesterday following reports that property was being smashed up.

Sixteen officers wearing protective clothing, and accompanied by dogs, eventually broke down a door and forced their way into the house.

Two children who were in the house were led away unhurt.

Neighbour Stephanie Robson, 52, said: "I heard all the commotion outside. There was lots of shouting and screaming. The police dogs were going ballistic.."

Sergeant Keith Morrison, said that, due to the "nature and severity of the incident", the commander had made a decision to force entry into the house.

Updated: 11:39 Monday, April 07, 2003