Village siege ends peacefully

The man is being held at the police station in Thetford

A man is being questioned by police following a 19-hour siege at a house in a Norfolk village.

Police were called to the property in Scoulton, near Thetford, just before midnight on Tuesday after reports of concern for a man and two children living there.

Police cordoned off the road and negotiators made contact with the man - and a boy and girl inside - through the night and on New Year's Day.

The incident ended peacefully when he voluntarily left the house just after 1900 GMT on Wednesday.

Children safe

Superintendent Bob Scully of Norfolk Constabulary said: "Although the incident took some time to bring to a conclusion, a policy of containment and considered negotiation proved successful.

"We are pleased that a difficult situation has been resolved safely."

He praised specialist officers for negotiation at the scene.

Police said the children are safe and being cared for elsewhere.