ARMED police were called to a house in Fareham yesterday after a man delivering court papers was threatened with a knife.

Police sealed off part of Helsby Close just off Bishopsfield Road about 6.30pm after the alarm was raised by the court worker who had been delivering what was thought to be a court summons.

He told police how he had been threatened by a man who came out of the property brandishing a seven to eight-inch knife which he then held to his face.

The man then went back inside the mid terrace home and the court worker was able to raise the alarm.

Police surrounded the property and negotiators were called in to talk the man out of the house. He eventually gave himself up without further incident three hours later.

Neighbours today spoke of the events that unfolded on their doorstep.

Ken Scott, of Helsby Close, said: "It is normally quiet around here. When we came in at about 7.30pm there was a police officer standing guard next to my wife's car and they were here for a good few hours after that."

His next door neighbour Nigel Key said: "We didn't really hear anything. There wasn't a lot of activity it was just a police wagon that was a bit out of the ordinary."

Another resident, who did not wish to be named, said: "It is quite frightening but at least the police seemed to be doing a good job containing it."

Curtains at the property at the centre of the incident remained drawn this morning along with the majority of other properties along the quite residential close.

Insp Simon Wrigglesworth said: "A man aged 26 has been detained by police after being arrested on suspicion of threatening behaviour. He will continue to be questioned today about the incident."

He added that a knife had been recovered from the address.

The court worker who was threatened was not injured and did not require any medical assistance as a result of his ordeal. It is thought he continued with his evening's work after the incident at Helsby Close.