ARMED police sealed off a house and evacuated nearby residents in Banbury today after reports of a man on the loose with a shotgun.

The Thames Valley Police helicopter was scrambled and an armed response unit sent to a house in Woodfield, Ruscote, Banbury, at 3.42am, after reports of a man banging on a door with a shotgun.

Insp Nick Elton said police arrived at the house and the man left to return to his own home in West Street, Grimsbury, where he was arrested four hours later.

Police found an air rifle in the West Street house and are treating it as a domestic incident.

During the incident, the area was cordoned off.

No shots were fired and no-one was injured in the incident. A 37-year-old man was being questioned by police.

Story date: Saturday 20 February

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