ARMED police stormed a Boscombe flat after cordoning off part of a busy road for more than an hour.

Customers in bars in Christchurch Road were told to stay inside while the operation was carried out just after 6pm on Monday.

Members of the public reported seeing numerous police vehicles in the area at the time the raid was carried out.

The police helicopter was also seen.

It is understood that a number of weapons were taken from the flat, including a crossbow.

Customers in Baxters and the Sir Percy Florence Shelley were allowed to leave after an arrest was made.

The road was closed from its junction with Ashley Road to the junction with Crabton Close Road.

One pub customer, who did not wish to be named said: "There were quite a lot of people in the pub at the time. I suppose the police just wanted to make sure no one got in the way."

The cordon was lifted just after 7pm and all police vehicles had left the scene by 8.30pm.

A spokesman for Dorset Police said officers were called to the scene just after 6pm.

He added:"We were called to support South West Ambulance Trust with a concern for welfare of a man at an address in Christchurch Road, Bournemouth."

He said a 50-year-old local man was arrested on suspicion of making threats to kill and that no-one else was sought by police.