A 41-year-old man was arrested by armed police in the early hours of this morning after a house siege lasting nine hours.

Officers went to a house in Cranley Road, Westcliff, at 7pm yesterday acting on a court warrant issued in Basildon.

A police spokesman said the road was sealed, fearing a firearm was in the house. The man was eventually arrested at about 4am. No weapons were found. A man is now helping police with their inquiries.

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