ARMED police sealed off part of a Poole housing estate during a domestic incident reportedly involving a firearm.

Uniformed officers, armed response units and dog handlers were called to Marshal Road on the Waterloo Estate around midday.

See how it unfolded in our live coverage here

The road was cordoned off near the parade of shops, with five police cars, firearms officers and a police dog attending the scene.

Officers present stressed there was no threat to the public, despite the drama involving a firearm.

One resident, who asked not to be named, described the police presence as "shocking", adding that the incident was the first time he had seen armed officers on the estate in a decade.

Meanwhile, other neighbours patiently waited behind the cordons watching events unfold.

Some residents complained of being unable to get to their workplaces, as a number of shops on the parade fell within the police cordon.

Police were escorting people to and from work during the incident - one resident living inside the cordon even had an armed police escort as she went to her local store and back home.

The police activity seemed to be centred around a residential property on Marshal Road.

Another resident said police had been visiting the parade of shops and showed staff a picture of a man, asking if they had seen him.

A white BMW car was recovered from the scene, around 3pm, before the cordon was lifted shortly afterwards.

A Dorset Police spokesman later confirmed: “On Tuesday, September 9, 2014, firearms officers made an enquiry along Marshal Road in relation to a domestic abuse incident.

“That enquiry has now been completed. There are no concerns for the public. Officers are continuing to investigate the case.”