A MAN has been arrested following a stand-off at a derelict building which lasted close to 48 hours.

The building was entered using public order tactics, a police Twitter account revealed.

Tredegar: building entered using public order tactics with assistance of @gpasueast. Ongoing incident brought to a safe conclusion.
One male in custody. @gwentpolice #Drelief

It came after officers were originally called to reports of a road traffic collision in Attlee Way, Tredegar, at 8.45am on Tuesday. The caller told police that a man was armed with a machete.

A Gwent Police statement this afternoon said: "Officers later responded to a disturbance at a property in Bridge Street, Tredegar, involving one man that we believed was linked to the earlier road traffic collision.

"Following these two incidents, a local man occupied a derelict building for a number of hours where a number of specialist officers remained on the scene.

"Following a decision taken by senior officers, in agreement with other emergency services, firearms officers were stood down at approximately 9pm on Tuesday, June 5, and at 9.30am on Wednesday, June 6, Gwent Police scaled down overall activity in Bridge Street, Tredegar."

Superintendant Glyn Fernquest said: “We mitigated all risks to members of the public and decided to withdraw much of our presence on safety grounds.

“We believed a large presence could have put the man involved at risk, given the clear dangers posed by the derelict building.

“A number of officers remained in the area, and searches continued  to bring this incident to a safe conclusion.

“This morning, Thursday, June 7, a 51-year-old man from the area was arrested by public order officers at his home address.

“The man was arrested on suspicion of assault with an offensive weapon, assaulting a police officer, affray, criminal damage, road traffic offences and indecent exposure.

"He was also wanted on a prison recall after breaching his license conditions.

"He currently remains in police custody.”

Firearms officers were stood down at approximately 9pm on Tuesday, June 5.