A five-hour stand-off with police in riot gear in a residential street ended with a 51-year-old being arrested on suspicion of affray.

The man was eventually led out of a property in Burgess Hill in handcuffs after a “brief struggle” with officers.

He was due to be interviewed by police as The Argus went to press last night.

Bailiffs went to a property in West Park Crescent shortly after 8am yesterday to evict the man following a High Court order, understood to be over unpaid council tax.

A police spokesman said the man resisted attempts to remove him from the home and also had a knife.

The bailiffs called the emergency services and within minutes multiple police cars, vans and officers were at the scene.

Aubrey Turk, 82, who lives in the road, said: “I opened the curtains at about 8am and I saw the police van and officers outside.

“It’s a nice area. There isn’t normally any trouble at all.”

Shelia Croft, 76, who also lives in West Park Crescent, said: “When I looked out there were police officers with riot shields and a battering ram.

“We are used to having police around here, but nothing like this.”

Police surrounded the building and cordoned off the crescent.

Officers in riot helmets and with shields blocked the front of the house and officers hid in bushes at the back of the house.

Later on in the morning, police dogs were also brought in.

Officers also ordered gas engineers to turn off the supply to the street as “a precaution”.

The stand-off continued for more than five hours before officers made a move in to the house.

They entered shortly after 1am when there was a “brief struggle”, according to police.

The man, who neighbours said had lived there for more than 15 years, was marched out in handcuffs.

With a green hoodie covering his head, he was put in the back of a police van and taken away.

A police spokesman said: “The man had a knife and resisted attempts to remove him from the property, but for some time only verbal contact was made with him.”

Superintendent Lawrence Hobbs said: “It was always our intention to resolve the matter and bring the incident to a safe and peaceful conclusion.

“We spoke to the man for some time and just after 1pm we were able to enter the house and secure him after a brief struggle.”

A Mid Sussex District Council spokesman said: “The council is aware that there was an incident in Burgess Hill involving a local resident.

“It is not appropriate for the council to comment on the detail of this matter as it is confidential. However, we can confirm that in 2012 the court served a bankruptcy order for non-payment of Council Tax.

“A receiver was appointed who has been dealing with the recovery of the debt since that time.

“The council is satisfied that it has acted properly and in accordance with legal requirements in relation to this case.”