Man arrested after siege

A man has been arrested by police in Blackpool after a siege that lasted over six hours.

Officers were called after a man contacted them to say he was holding his mother hostage and was threatening to blow a house up.

Residents living in nearby properties were evacuated and taken to a local sports centre, after the incident began at about 2030 BST on Sunday.

Trained negotiators set up telephone contact with the man, who later released his mother unharmed but refused to give himself up.

Gas appliances

A Lancashire Police spokesman said it was unclear why the incident, in Collingwood Avenue, Blackpool, had taken place.

He said: "We were contacted by a man who said he was holding his mother hostage and threatened to cause her injuries.

"He claimed he had switched on gas appliances in the house with the intention of causing an explosion.

"He later released his mother unharmed but refused to leave the house himself.

"Officers took swift action and evacuated a number of neighbouring properties, taking people to West Park Drive sports centre."

Negotiators were in constant contact with the man until he gave himself up at about 0300 BST on Monday.

He is being held at Blackpool police station, where he will be interviewed later.