Police said the safety for a man in his 60s was the reason a major road was closed in Accrington.

Witnesses said armed police officers and a number of police vehicles could be seen near the Costa Coffee and Lidl on Hyndburn Road close to Accrington town centre.

The section of area near to Acorn Primary School was closed earlier this afternoon, police said.

A police spokesperson said: "We were called at 2.26pm to a report of a concern for safety for a man in his 60s at an address in Hyndburn Road, Accrington.

"Police officers, some of them armed, attended the scene and the incident was brought to a peaceful conclusion at approximately 4.25pm.

"No one was injured and the cordon at the scene has been lifted."

Earlier a witness at the scene said: “There is a big police presence here and they closed the road pretty quickly.

"I counted eight police vehicles in the area.

“They were shouting at someone to get down next to the school.

Lancashire Telegraph:

Police closed Hyndburn Road this afternoon

Lancashire Telegraph:

Officers cleared the road following the apparent stand off