RESIDENTS feared for their safety after armed police raided a Hampshire home following an alleged domestic incident.

Armed officers with dog units were called to the incident on Forster Road, St Denys at 8pm on Sunday evening, using their vehicles to block off the road.

This raid came just hours after similar incident at a flat in Millbrook Towers.

One female student who lived in Clausentum Road said she was worried about the amount of police that attended the scene.

She said: “I was on my way home when I saw all the police at the end of the road, and I started to panic.

“People have tried to break into my house in the past and then you see armed police and it does make you think about your safety.”

Police said officers were deployed to Forster Road in the search with a man connected with an assault investigation.

A police spokesman said: "We want to reassure the community that we were not responding to a threat or incident in that location on Sunday evening.

"Our officers were seeking to arrest a man in connection with an assault investigation. Armed officers were deployed as a precaution to ensure that any arrest could be affected quickly and safely.

"No-one was detained in the operation and our investigation continues."

Portswood ward councillor Paul O’Neil, said residents should take comfort from the police taking the correct action to maintain the safety of people living in Southampton. .

He said: “It is good to see the police respond in the correct manner.

“I think people are still more nervous than they would be normally so can take solace in the police keeping them safe.

“I would hope that a police presence makes residents feel safe as they do a terrific job for out community.”

One Forster Road resident said he and his flat mate saw armed police walking along Spear from for at least an hour.

He said: “It was as if they were searching for someone.

“We could see them constantly looking around whilst more officers stood on the corner of our road."

Anyone with information is asked to contact Hampshire Police on 101.