A NEWPORT man was arrested on suspicion of possessing a firearm after a two-hour armed siege.

Police cordoned off Ruperra Close, Bassaleg, at around 11.25am after reports a man had a gun.

Armed officers, the police helicopter and police dogs were at the scene until around 1pm when the search moved to Rogerstone.

A 19-year-old man was later arrested in Thornbury Park and was still in police custody as the Argus went to press last night.

A Gwent Police spokeswoman said the weapon was recovered and was found to be an air rifle.

Five police cars and a riot van blocked off the entrance to Ruperra Close for two hours, while officers surrounded a house in the cul-de-sac.

Residents returning to their homes were forced to wait at the junction with Laurel Crescent, while shoppers and traders in the nearby shops looked on in shock.

Around 20 neighbours gathered at the scene to see what was happening, while one neighbour watched the incident unfold from his living room window.

He said armed officers flanked the front and back of the house, pointing their weapons towards the semidetached property before breaking down the back door.

He then watched as they searched the house but said it appeared noone was inside.

Officers were seen removing a sports bag from the house before the team left for Thornbury Park, leaving one officer to guard the home.

Locals spoke of their shock at the incident.

One woman said: We just saw all these police arrive with guns, they won’t allow nobody in or out. It’s frightening really.”

Ellise Dawkins, 18, said the man arrested lived at the house with his grandmother who raised him. She added: “It was a shock, it’s normally really quiet around here.”