Street cordoned off with armed police on scene over 'concern for welfare'

Armed police descended on a street in Skelmersdale and cordoned off a house as they 'negotiated with a man inside'.

A cordon was put in place on School Lane on Sunday afternoon. Pictures on social media showed a number of police vehicles on the scene with a house taped off on neighbouring Clayton Street, Lancs Live reports.

A spokesperson for Lancashire Police said officers were first called to the scene at around 3.45pm 'to a report of a concern for welfare'. The force confirmed armed officers responded.

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Police said there was 'no threat to the wider public' and the matter was resolved after five hours. The man, who has not been identified, was taken to hospital and no further details have been released about injuries or his condition.

Local residents posted about the incident on social media, with one person writing: "They’re negotiating with someone on Clayton street." Another said: "Clayton Street the same. Armed coppers here".

A third person said: "Omg hope everyone is ok whatever is happening." A Lancs Police spokesperson said: "We were called at 3.45pm yesterday (September 22) to a property in Clayton Street, Skelmersdale, to a report of a concern for welfare. Our officers, some of them armed, attended and a cordon was placed around the property.

"There was no threat to the wider public and the matter was safely resolved around 8.50pm. A man was taken to hospital."

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