Armed police closed off a quiet Bradford road following reports of an elderly man brandishing a machete and replica handgun.

Police negotiators were called to Bronte Old Road, Thornton, at about 5.50pm yesterday after ambulance crews alerted them to the situation.

They were locked in tense negotiations for almost two hours as they tried to persuade the 68-year-old husband to put down his weapons.

The man's wife today said she did not want to comment but added she was awaiting a police phone call on the matter and it had been a private issue.

Neighbours said the outburst was completely out of character for their friends and were shocked to find the road sealed off by armed officers.

One said: "He is a lovely old man, he spends all his time working in his garden and is really quiet.

"He always gives me some flowers from his garden and never has a bad word to say.

"I can't believe this has happened - it's not something you'd ever expect him to do. It's taken us all completely by surprise."

Police said they had recovered a replica handgun from the man's house and also a large bladed instrument.

They were called by paramedics but it is not believed that anyone was injured during the incident.

Another neighbour, who lives opposite the scene, said: "It was a like a scene from some kind of film. Suddenly all these police cars came down the road and everything was sealed off.

"It's not the kind of thing you normally associate with this area."

A 68-year-old man was yesterday arrested in connection with an incident in Thornton. He was remanded in police custody pending further inquiries.