A TENSE eight-hour stand-off with a man allegedly wielding a machete and holding hostages ended with police storming a property in Bournemouth on Saturday.

A major multi-agency operation was launched in the early hours of the morning after reports two men were being held hostage at a property in Mountbatten Gardens, Townsend.

The chain of events began when officers were called to Mallard Road shortly before 3.30am where a woman had been allegedly left with an eye injury.

A male suspect had fled by the time officers arrived and at 6.34am police received a report that a man was threatening two men at an address in Mountbatten Gardens.

A cordon was placed on adjoining Woodbury Avenue as armed police accompanied by dogs, ambulances, the fire service and hostage negotiators arrived at the scene.

A friend of one of those being held waiting anxiously at the cordon told the Daily Echo: “We are just praying this ends with nobody getting hurt.”

And an eyewitness watching from a nearby flat said armed officers positioned themselves in neighbouring gardens and their guns could be seen being aimed from overlooking windows.

She said one of the alleged hostages was released mid-morning unharmed, but the stand-off continued with a negotiator urging the suspect to come to the window.

“I could hear them shouting ‘come out mate’ at the property,” she added.

She added that the second alleged hostage left the property looking “shaken up” before a man was led away in handcuffs and placed in the back of a police van shortly after 2.30pm.

Superintendent Mark Callaghan later confirmed the incident ended without any injuries.

He said: “I would very much like to thank the community for their patience and support throughout this lengthy operation.

“We had to cordon off the area in order to deal with the situation while keeping the public safe. I am aware that this has taken quite a few hours in which residents were unable to enter the area and I am very grateful for their understanding.”

Many congregated at the cordon as the drama unfolded, with cars and those wanting to access their properties being turned away by police.

One, who did not want to be named, said: “It’s scary that this has happened so close to us.

“It feels tense and unpredictable – certainly not the kind of thing you expect to happen in Bournemouth. This area has its problems here and there but this is on a completely other level.”

Another added: “This is shocking. I have never seen so many emergency services in one area before in my life. It looks like a disaster zone.”

Witnesses and anyone with information should call Dorset Police in confidence on 101, quoting incident number 12:76. Alternatively, call the free and anonymous Crimestoppers line on 0800 555 111, where mobile phone tariffs may apply.

On Sunday evening Dorset Police said that a 34-year-old Bournemouth man had been charged with assault, false imprisonment, threats to kill and possession of a bladed article. He is due to appear at Bournemouth Magistrates' Court on Monday.

To see how the drama unfolded, click here.