ARMED police sealed off a street and surrounded a North Yorkshire house after reports of a disturbance.

Officers cordoned off the street and police dogs were brought in after a woman at a house in Rainbow Lane, Malton, alerted police at around 12.15pm yesterday.

A police spokesman said: "There was a mention of some sort of weapon involved in this domestic dispute, and with that in mind the police dogs section and an armed response vehicle were called."

Rainbow Lane was sealed off for two-and-a-half hours as officers set up security around the house.

Sounds of a disturbance were coming from the home, and when officers went to the door a man came out and was immediately arrested.

The house was searched and a weapon, believed to be an air gun, was found.

A man and a woman from Easingwold have since been charged with causing a breach of the peace.

Both were due to appear at Scarborough Magistrates Court today.

One elderly resident said she was told by neighbours that police were called because they were very worried about a woman in the house.

She said: "Apparently there had been shouting and banging and screaming the previous night into the early hours.

"Yesterday there was a bit more noise in the morning but then it went all quiet."

Another concerned resident, who also asked not to be named, said: "It was terrifying. It's not the sort of thing you expect in a quiet place like this."

And a third resident, who lives nearby, said she had been amazed to see officers cordoning off the neighbouring street.

She said: "I looked out of my window and saw about five police cars and vans.

"The street was sealed, and the workmen who had been laying gas pipes on Highfield Road were all sent home early."

Updated: 14:57 Wednesday, March 13, 2002