Police with riot shields were called to a York street early today after a man threatened to set himself ablaze in an eight-hour siege.

FLASHPOINT: The house in Barkston Close, Chapelfields, where police with riot shields brought the siege to a close

York fire, police and ambulance crews stood by throughout the night as negotiators tried to calm the crisis, which boiled over from a domestic dispute between Chapelfields couple Arnold Sutcliffe and Helen Pratt.

The drama began when Ms Pratt rang police at 7.50pm. A team of specially-trained officers with riot shields brought the siege to a close at 4.25am when they managed to get Mr Sutcliffe out unharmed.

Ms Pratt and two children are believed to have escaped from the house in Barkston Close, Chapelfields, early in the incident .

A spokesman for North Yorkshire Police said: "Specially-trained officers with shields attended at an address in Barkston Close and arrested a man in connection with an incident arising from a domestic dispute.

"The man was taken to Fulford Road police station, where inquiries are continuing. No-one was injured and no firearms were involved."

One man, who did not wish to be named, said it was extremely frightening for neighbours and other residents of the street, who watched from their homes as the drama unfolded. He said: "I'd been out for a meal and came back around 9pm. There were police, a fire engine and an ambulance there.

"The guy was threatening to set fire to himself but the police couldn't go in and they were there until 4.30am.

"He must have been watching from inside because every time the police approached the house, the window opened and I think he must have been threatening to set fire to himself because they backed off."

The man said the couple were in their 30s and had two children. He said they had lived in the street for some time and seemed a quiet couple.

Helen Pratt, clearly traumatised by the night's events, spoke briefly to the Evening Press.

She said that she did not want to see Mr Sutclifee come back to the house and as far as she was concerned the relationship was over.

Margaret Smith, who lives in the street, was told she could not enter when she returned home last night. She said: "I'd been round at my daughter's house and I had to go back there for the night, and I got back this morning at about 8am."

Ron Atkin, who lives opposite the house, said he was shocked by the incident as he had known the couple for more than ten years and there had never been any problems before. He said: "They are normally a great couple. He'd do anything to help anyone as a rule."

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