A man has been arrested after armed police responded to reports of a man wielding an axe on a North East street.

Cleveland Police have confirmed they were called to Edmondbyers Road in Stockton at around 9:25pm on Wednesday (May 15).

They confirmed armed police attended the area and arrested a 50-year-old man on suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon.

The Northern Echo: Armed police attended Edmondbyers Road in Hardwick, Stockton, after reports of a man wielding anThe Northern Echo: A man has been arrested after armed police responded to reports of a man wielding an axe on

They added he is currently in police custody for questioning.

A Cleveland Police spokesperson said: “At around 9.25pm on Wednesday 15 May, police were called to reports of a man armed with an axe on Edmondbyers Road in Stockton.

“Officers, including armed response, swiftly attended to the area and arrested the 50-year-old on suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon.

The Northern Echo: Armed police attended Edmondbyers Road in Hardwick, Stockton, after reports of a man wielding an“He is currently in police custody for questioning.”

Images of the scene show several armed police patrolling the area and going to properties on the street.

The Northern Echo: Armed police attended Edmondbyers Road in Hardwick, Stockton, after reports of a man wielding anThe Northern Echo: Armed police attended Edmondbyers Road in Hardwick, Stockton, after reports of a man wielding an

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The Northern Echo: Armed police attended Edmondbyers Road in Hardwick, Stockton, after reports of a man wielding an

The Northern Echo: A man has been arrested after armed police responded to reports of a man wielding an axe on

One resident on the street said: “A man was running around with an axe that was about three foot long.”

Another resident said: “He was running around the street saying he was going to kill someone.”

“It was really frightening to think that not long ago our kids were playing in the gardens and they could have seen or heard that."