A WOMAN brandishing two knives in a residential street was stunned with a taser following a three-hour stand-off with police.

Armed police were called to Bowness Road, Padiham, to reports of a 20-year-old woman threatening to harm herself and other people, including an officer at the scene.

Officers, who were wearing full protective gear and carrying shields, said the woman was "highly erratic" and in a "distressed" state during the incident at 9.30pm on New Year's Day.

She was holding knives in each hand and kept raising them to her throat, police said.

Following negotiations, command was passed to the chief inspector who authorised armed officers to use a taser gun at around 12.15am this morning.

She was then arrested on the suspicion of a public order offence and taken into custody.

The 50,000-volt Taser guns has a range of 21 feet and can incapacitate someone for five seconds.

Detective Inspector Sion Hall said: "She was quite distressed and was causing a threat to herself and others.

"The issue was really whether she would hurt herself.

"We had received a call initially from a resident.

"The police negotiator managed to speak to her and got her to calm down.

"But she has been up and down and that's why the taser has been used.

"She was then taken into custody.

"She is still with us at present, but we are looking at whether she has mental health issues.

"A doctor will make an assessment and it depends what his view is."

Resident Andrea Taylor, of Bowness Road, said: "Police sealed off the road for around and it all took around three or four hours before it all calmed down."

Another resident added: "We heard screaming and someone that she had a knife. It was dark so we couldn't really see anything.

"The police were asking everyone to remain indoors until it was all over, just in case any shots were fired.

"It is usually so quiet around this part of town.

"I've lived here for around 30 years and there has never been any trouble."

Tasers were introduced in Lancashire in February 2005.

But they were only occasionally used in the first two years.

But in July last year the number of situations in which they could be used was widened.

They were previously only allowed to be used in a firearms incident where a person was carrying, or had access to, a firearm or was so dangerous they had to use their weapon.

Now, the stun guns can be discharged if officers are facing violence or threats of violence of such severity that they would need to use force to protect the public or themselves.

Since July tasers have been fired 25 times in Lancashire and drawn but not used 20 times.