ARMED officers arrested a man and seized a gun after a siege at a Gwent housing estate last night.

Police sealed off the Underwood estate at Newport to traffic for an hour after receiving reports that a man inside the house in Waltwood Road had a firearm.

Neighbours say the house is occupied by a couple and young child. One neighbour, who did not wish to be named, said: "It was a very tense situation and there were many faces at the windows.

"Two large police cars pulled up in Waltwood Road at about 6.40pm. Three policemen and a female officer wearing flak jackets and guns got out. It was a shock to see guns in the street.

"Shortly afterwards they took a young woman carrying a small child from a house in Waltwood Road. She was taken away while a car remained.

"About an hour later a man was walking down the street. "He was stopped by remaining officers and also taken away. The whole incident lasted about an hour- and-a-quarter."

Drivers trying to enter the estate were turned away by police until the situation was under control.

Waltwood Road was also closed to traffic. Police say that a 33-year-old man was arrested later on public order charges.

The man is being held in custody and police say that a firearm was recovered. Nobody was hurt during the incident.

A policeman stood guard outside the empty house last night as investigations continued.

PICTURED: PC Mark Jones stands guard outside a house in Waltwood Road, Underwood, Newport, in which an armed siege took place last night.