A three-hour stand off involving armed police, a dog unit and other officers with protective shields, ended at a house in Ashford after a neighbourhood PC persuaded a disturbed man refusing to leave to come out.

Ashford police say community police officer Mandy Surgenor spent "considerable" time talking to the man before she managed to persuade him to surrender.

Ashford police say they were called to the address on Thursday afternoon following a domestic incident and say a man inside displayed “violent behaviour" towards officers at the scene.

The incident happened at Luddenham Close, Stanhope.

Police feared the man had taken medication and there was concern for his welfare. He was taken to the William Harvey Hospital to be checked out and later returned into police custody.