ARMED officers had their guns trained on a flat during a tense six-hour stand-off.

Police arrested a man on suspicion of “making threats to kill and threats to cause criminal damage” after the drama in Broadwater Street West, Worthing, yesterday.

Officers were called to the street at about 8.30am yesterday following concerns for a man who was threatening to harm himself.

But the situation quickly escalated and the road was closed as riot vans, dog units, fire crews, ambulance services and a drone filled the street.

A police helicopter was hovering low overhead.

Witnesses described seeing “what looked like a siege situation” as officers dealt with the incident.

The huge police response caused confusion among residents in nearby houses and those working in the area.

A passerby said: “There were unmarked police cars there, fire engines and armed response vehicles.

“I walked past and thought, ‘oh s***, what’s going on?’.

“We just phoned a shop nearby and they had no idea what’s happening either.

“As I walked past there were police talking to a couple of people outside Tesco, there was swearing.

“A lot of people have backed off but some workers are standing outside their shops.”

Diversions were put in place around the closed-off road and police tape was used to keep gathering crowds away from the incident.

Police initially surrounded a row of shops, with officers carrying guns stationed around the entrance.

At about 1pm a huddle of riot police wearing protective helmets and carrying shields made their way towards a set of flats.

The force later revealed that a man had been arrested after agreeing to leave the flat.

A spokeswoman said: “A man has been arrested following a six-hour stand-off with police in Worthing.

“Officers, including armed officers and other emergency services, attended a property in Broadwater Street West at about 8.35am following concerns for a man who was threatening to harm himself.

“The man refused to come out of the flat for police until just before 2.30pm when he was subsequently arrested on suspicion of making threats to kill and threats to cause criminal damage.”

Sussex Police apologised for inconvenience caused by the road closure.

The force said that this was an “isolated incident, not involving a firearm”.

A police chief, who said the incident had not involved a gun, apologised to residents for the lengthy road closure.

Adur and Worthing chief inspector Sarah Leadbeatter said: “We would like to thank the public for their patience while we were dealing with this incident and apologise for any inconvenience caused by part of the road being closed.

“This was an isolated incident, not involving a firearm, contained within the property with no wider threat to the community, including the local schools.”