The 72-year-old man was arrested in the Stanningley area of Leeds on Friday afternoon following a lengthy stake out of a house in Harlech Crescent, Beeston, on suspicion of being in possession of an offensive weapon.

Armed officers in body armour some equipped with taser stun guns and accompanied by tracker dogs sealed off the terrace house and garden shortly after breakfast time after DVLA staff attempted to clamp an untaxed car were confronted and saw a pistol.

A lengthy stand-off ensued during which police negotiators attempted to talk to a male resident at the house who stores three-wheel Reliant Robin cars in the garden and also has a Ford Fiesta.

When officers finally forced an entry into the house they were unable to locate the householder and the West Yorkshire Police helicopter was scrambled to scour the district from the air. The search was called off when the 72-year-old was arrested.