ARMED police were involved in an hour-long stand-off with a man who threatened to blow up his ex-girlfriend's Blackburn home.

Around a dozen officers, some with guns, blocked off parts of Ailsa Road, Shadsworth, after the man, who was said to have broken in to the house, told them he was turning on the gas.

Neighbours said the woman who lived there, a mother of one, had recently moved from Accrington after splitting from her partner.

Police surrounded the house for more than an hour and said the man, who was alone, had threatened to harm himself and anyone who entered.

Residents returning home from work and the school run were turned away at about 3.15pm yesterday as police negotiators talked to a man.

A 36-year-old man was later arrested on suspicion of burglary, threatening to cause criminal damage and threatening violence. He was due to be interviewed by police today.Elaine Stafford, 31, lives a few doors down from the semi-detached family home where the woman and her child live.

The mother of four said her family were scared and added: "I don't know what I was more scared of, all the guns or that he might have the gas on.

"I made sure the children stayed inside. The police told us we might need to evacuate but it didn't come to that. I hope he doesn't come back.

"It was frightening, especially for the children."

Robert Murdock, 40, who lives across the road, said: "I had just come back from an appointment at the hospital and I couldn't get into my drive. It was just in the taped off area. I had to leave my car down the street and they allowed me to walk in.

"We don't usually have trouble on this street. Its not every day you see police with guns stopping you from going home."

Two fire engines, an ambulance and gas suppliers Transco were all on the scene. It was later discovered the gas had not been switched on.

Inspector David Mangan, of Blackburn Police, said police feared a man was going to blow the house up. He added: "We put a cordon on the area with armed police. We needed to protect the residents.

"A man threatened to harm himself and then anyone else who came near him. And it was suggested that he was going to put the gas on. So we kept everyone back to keep them out of harm's way."