A man held two children hostage for five hours overight.

Dozens of police officers, including armed units, were called to an address in Haybourne, Whitehawk, at about 1.30 this morning where a man was refusing to allow two children out of a house.

Officers finally arrested the man on suspicion false imprisonment at about 6am.

A spokesman for Sussex Police said: "A female called the police saying there had been some kind of incident.

"She had an injury to her nose and a male was in the property refusing to come out.

"There was a long stand off with many officers.

"Quite a few of the officers were armed, because we believed he may have weapons.

"There were two children in the house. Eventually a family member arrived and encouraged him to give himself up."

The man who was arrested is currently still in police custody.